Irene Aldana scored a stunning knockout victory over Ketlen Vieira in the women’s bantamweight division at UFC 245 on Saturday night.
The fight was a back-and-forth affair for the first four minutes, with both fighters landing hard shots. But with just seconds left in the round, Aldana landed a perfectly timed left hook that sent Vieira crashing to the canvas. Vieira was unable to recover, and the referee called a stop to the fight at 4:59 of the first round.
The victory was a major upset, as Vieira was the No. 4-ranked bantamweight in the world at the time. But Aldana, who was ranked No. 10, showed that she is a legitimate contender in the division.
“I’m so happy,” Aldana said after the fight. “I worked so hard for this. I knew I had to be perfect tonight, and I was.”
Aldana’s knockout win has put her right in the mix for a title shot. With Amanda Nunes currently holding the bantamweight title, Aldana could be next in line to challenge for the belt.
“I’m ready for whoever,” Aldana said. “I’m ready for the title shot.”
The victory was also a personal one for Aldana. She is the first Mexican-born woman to win a fight in the UFC, and she dedicated the win to her country.
“This is for Mexico,” Aldana said. “I’m so proud to represent my country.”
Aldana’s victory was one of the most exciting of the night, and it has put her on the map as a legitimate contender in the women’s bantamweight division. With a title shot in her sights, Aldana is sure to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.
In addition to the knockout, Aldana also earned a Performance of the Night bonus for her performance.