With a vacant Invicta championship on the line, rising Mexican bantamweight Irene Aldana will look to extend her record in the promotion to 3-0 with a win on one of the feature fights of Invicta FC 13 against Tonya Evinger.
Just six fights into her professional career, Aldana is giving up a lot in the way of experience against her 34-year-old American opponent, and that’s something that the younger fighter appreciates.
“I really respect Tonya [Evinger],” Aldana said in the Invicta FC 13 pre-fight press scrum. “She has been in the sport for a long time. Her record is amazing. She’s really good. She’s amazing with her wrestling and some of her jiu-jitsu. It’s an honor to share this fight with her.”
While she’s finished all of her victories with her last two wins coming by way of first round submission, Aldana isn’t completely certain on the form or fashion that she’ll win, and she also doesn’t anticipate this fight being personal at all, given her respect for her veteran opponent.
“[Tonya Evinger] gets in there to do her job,” Aldana said. “I get in there to do my job. It’s not personal. It’s just what we do. We are there because we love the sport, and the sport is about one has to lose, one has to win. I hope to win, but anything can happen.”
Focusing back on her career, it’s been just recently that Aldana has become name on the women’s MMA scene. She debuted in late 2012, and now she’s on the verge of winning an important championship and potentially earning a shot in the UFC. The rise has been a huge positive for her.
“I’m happy, and it’s moving very quickly,” Aldana said. “More quickly than I thought it would be. It’s been an amazing experience. I’m really happy.”
And with her success in MMA, Aldana has begun to understand her roles in the sport aside from fighting such as being an ambassador for mixed martial arts in Mexico.
“I’m learning,” Aldana said. “The Mexican people has been amazing with us, with Alexa [Grasso] and I. We have seen a lot of love from them. I hope this lasts for a really, really long time.”
Regardless, the immediate goal for Aldana is to win the championship at Invicta 13. It’s a goal she’s been striving for and hopes to accomplish.
“It would be really important [to win the title]. It’s something we have been waiting for and have always trained for the title. The time has come, and we’re ready to take it.”