JJ Aldrich: Beating ex-training partner Montana De La Rosa was just business at UFC Fight Night 229

LAS VEGAS – JJ Aldrich beat Montana De La Rosa with a unanimous decision Saturday to open up the preliminary card at UFC Fight Night 229 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Take a look inside the fight with Aldrich, who won for the second straight time and handed De La Rosa her third straight loss.

JJ Aldrich vs. Montana De La Rosa

Result: JJ Aldrich def. Montana De La Rosa via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Updated records: Aldrich (13-6 MMA, 9-5 UFC), De La Rosa (12-9-1 MMA, 5-5-1 UFC)
Key stats: De La Rosa started her UFC tenure at 3-0, but is 1-4-1 the past three years.

Aldrich on the fight's key moment

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 07: (R-L) JJ Aldrich punches Montana De La Rosa in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on October 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“She kicked a little bit more than I thought she would. They’ll throw kicks and stuff in the gym, but I feel like they’re a little bit more intentional tonight. I felt like she did a good job with that. I thought she would shoot a little bit more, but I think just with my movement, it makes it hard.”

Aldrich on training with De La Rosa

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – OCTOBER 07: (L-R) Montana De La Rosa kicks JJ Aldrich in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in at UFC APEX on October 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Al Powers/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

“Yeah, We’ve trained together, so I think I just was able to find my distance and throw a little bit faster, not be as hesitant because I’ve seen her in front of me so much …

“I never called and asked to fight Montana, but the fight kept getting offered and I’m not in a position to turn down fights right now. I can’t put somebody else’s career ahead of my own. So when the call came in, they’ve tried to match this up multiple times, and this is the day. So there you have it. … I gave her a hug (afterward). I said all love. It’s business, and I hope she understands that.”

Aldrich on what she wants next

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JUNE 04: (L-R) JJ Aldrich punches Erin Blanchfield in a flyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on June 04, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

“This fight came about so fast, I didn’t even have time to think about nothing else – didn’t really have time to game plan against Montana. We just had to be as ready as I could be for myself. So I have no idea what’s next – definitely go home and take a little bit of time off and probably fight next year.

“Definitely (I’d like rematches with Erin Blanchfield and Ariane Lipski). Erin, I was doing really well in that fight and obviously slipped up, made a mistake. But that just gives me the confidence. I know I belong in the top. I just have to stay true to myself, stay confident and keep working hard. I’ll get there.”

To hear more from Aldrich, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 229.