BREAKING: Aspen Ladd Versus Irene Aldana Targeted for UFC 273 in New York

After finishing 2021 on a grand scale, the UFC matchmakers are back to the drawing board to create an even magnificent 2022. Recently, reports are in for the first fight of UFC’s April pay-per-view, UFC 273. A women’s bantamweight clash between contenders Aspen Ladd and Irene Aldana is scheduled for April 9 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

The news was first reported by ESPN Deportes. Irene Aldana is coming off a dominant victory over Yana Kunitskaya. Notably, Aldana TKO’d Kunitskaya in the first round of their bout back in July at UFC 264: Poirier vs McGregor 3. Meanwhile, Irene Aldana is ranked #3 on the women’s bantamweight charts, just below ‘The Lioness’ and Julianna Pena.

On the other hand, Ladd returned to the octagon after almost 2 years. The California native took a 2 year gap after training session injury. Ladd returned to the octagon against Brazilian Norma Dumont to headline the UFC Fight Night event in October. However, Ladd lost the featherweight bout to Dumont by a unanimous decision.

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Notably, Ladd (9-2) last won a match against the aforementioned Yana Kunitskaya two years ago in 2019 at UFC on ESPN: Overeem vs. Rozenstruik. The 26-year-old took victory home with a third-round TKO stoppage. Ladd had been asking for a match against former UFC bantamweight champion Miesha Tate. Following the latter’s criticism of Ladd’s coach and partner Jim West.

Aspen Ladd asks Miesha Tate to settle it as adults

Aspen Ladd’s comeback fight was a little controversial, not because of her performance but because of her coach and partner Jim West’s heated cornering. Many MMA professionals thought it was a little over the top. Meanwhile, former bantamweight champion Miesha Tate went even further to it as abuse.

However, Ladd had a different opinion of her coach’s behavior. The 26-year-old confronted Tate latter’s remarks as she didn’t agree with her.

“I think she’s definitely stirred the pot quite a bit. We all have life experiences, right?” Ladd questioned. But without knowing what’s happened to another person, you can’t just apply, like, your triggers and what’s wrong with you to them. She has a tendency to see the world through what’s happened to her in the past,” Ladd told MMA Fighting.

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“I don’t want to talk sh*t, but I definitely want that fight, you said some things; let’s go handle this like adults here.” Ladd continued.

Can Ladd clash against Miesha Tate? Who do you think takes the victory home at UFC 273? Tell us in the comments below.