UFC 289 marks return to Great White North for first time in four years

Per Aaron Bronsteter of TSN Sports, Amanda Nunes will defend the women’s bantamweight title against Julianna Peña in the headliner, here. The two stars have fought twice at UFC 269 and UFC 277, respectively. 

Nunes, who is one of the greatest female fighters of all-time, regained the bantamweight title from Peña in July of 2022. Peña, who snapped Nunes’ 12-fight unbeaten streak back in Dec. of 2021, wants to reclaim UFC gold. 

Former welterweight title challenger Stephen Thompson is also expected to take on Michel Pereira while No. 13 ranked featherweight Dan Ige will fight Nate Landwehr in that early June card.

Thompson, 40, is looking to add another important win to his resume in pursuit of a third career title opportunity while Pereira, the No. 15-ranked welterweight, is on a five-fight unbeaten streak dating back to Sept. 2020. 

Ige last fought at in January, at UFC Vegas 67, where he finished Damon Jackson by second-round knockout which snapped a three-fight losing streak. Landwehr, an outspoken 145-pounder, has earned post-fight bonuses in three-straight wins.

Per MMA Fighting and Aaron Bronsteter of TSN Sports, other featured bouts include: 

• David Dvorak vs. Matt Schnell

• Eryk Anders vs. Marc-André Barriault

• Jasmine Jasudavicius vs. Miranda Maverick

• Diana Belbita vs. Maria Oliveira

• Blake Bilder vs. Kyle Nelson

• Hakeem Dawodu vs. Lucas Almeida

• Aiemann Zahabi vs. Aoriqileng

UFC 289 will be the first Canadian-based UFC event since Sept. 2019, when Justin Gaethje defeated Donald Cerrone by first-round TKO (also) in Vancouver.

Canada has produced several mixed martial artists, including Georges St-Pierre, Rory MacDonald and Carlos Newton. 

UFC 289 will take place at Rogers Arena.