10 UFC Fights To Watch In July
9. Irene Aldana Vs. Raquel Pennington - UFC On ESPN 4
Although she looked far from convincing when she joined the UFC, Irene Aldana has really come into her own over the last few fights. The Mexican looked brilliant in her last bout against Bethe Correia, beating up the former title challenger before slapping on a wicked armbar.
Beating Correia put her on the path towards a title shot, but she's got a tough opponent in Raquel Pennington standing in her way. Pennington is a proven force inside the UFC bantamweight division, facing the likes of Amanda Nunes, Miesha Tate and Jessica Andrade. While she isn't fantastic in one specific area, she's extremely tough and gritty, making her the perfect challenge for Aldana at this point in her career.
It's truly a litmus test to see if she's the real deal. If she's able to get past Correia, then she'll be right in line for a shot at Nunes' belt. However, if she loses, we'll know that either isn't quite ready or good enough to make a run for the title.