Amanda Nunes vs. Valentina Shevchenko | UFC Betting Sites

Valentina Shevchenko Says Her Next Fight Will Be At 125 Pounds

When the UFC first introduced women’s divisions, there was only a 135-pound bantamweight class. Then came the women’s 115-pound division. Now that the world’s leading MMA promotion has a women’s 125-pound weight class, many female bantamweights are making the move to flyweight, including recent bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko. “Bullet” revealed her intent to drop […]

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When the UFC first introduced women’s divisions, there was only a 135-pound bantamweight class. Then came the women’s 115-pound division.

Now that the world’s leading MMA promotion has a women’s 125-pound weight class, many female bantamweights are making the move to flyweight, including recent bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko.

“Bullet” revealed her intent to drop down to flyweight on Submission Radio, which is the weight class she competed in Muay Thai:

“You know, now I’m thinking to move to 125, and I think more probably my next fight it will be in this division 125 (pounds).

“Because 125 is like much closer weight for me, it’s my real weight category, and even at like 135 I feel comfortable and I feel like 125 I will be able to use all my techniques and all my skills because I will fight with the same-sized opponents as me.”

But she hasn’t ruled out a third fight with current bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who she lost a narrow and competitive decision against at UFC 216 last Saturday.

“Of course I do, because it’s still on my plans to go back and fight against Amanda again,” she replied when asked if she would be interested in fighting for the bantamweight title again.

“And from the next time, not give any chance to make this like this decision that was made a few days ago. And of course it’s on my mind and I still want it. Not right now, not in the near future, but I definitely it will happen.”

Would you like to see Valentina Shevchenko move down to the 125-pound division? How do you think she would fare at flyweight?

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Five Biggest Takeaways From UFC 215

While UFC 215 may have appeared weakened by the loss of its main event, the show went on and ended up being an entertaining card from top to bottom. Stunning knockout upsets, a close title fight, the emergence of a former lightweight champion in the welterweight division… UFC 215 gave us a lot to work […]

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While UFC 215 may have appeared weakened by the loss of its main event, the show went on and ended up being an entertaining card from top to bottom.

Stunning knockout upsets, a close title fight, the emergence of a former lightweight champion in the welterweight division… UFC 215 gave us a lot to work with.

Check out the five biggest takeaways from UFC 215!

5. Kajan Johnson Knocks Out Adrian Martins In Biggest Upset Of The Night

Martins was the rightful favorite going in to his lightweight tilt against Johnson, who’s MMA record belied his ability.

With a record of 22-12, Johnson was a massive underdog against Martins last night, but apparently did not get that memo beforehand.

Johnson leveled him with a punch against the cage in the third round, and in doing so notched the biggest victory of his career.

The Canadian managed to do so in spite of a two year layoff, and is now riding a respectable three fight winning streak.

An unlikely turnaround for Johnson, but a memorable one nonetheless.

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Valentina Shevchenko Goes Off On Judges For Amanda Nunes Scoring

Valentina Shevchenko had a hard fought bout against UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes in the main event of Saturday’s UFC 215 PPV (pay-per-view) event. After going 25-minutes, the judges awarded Nunes the split decision victory, which marked the second win that Nunes holds over the title contender. This did not make Shevchenko very happy […]

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This did not make Shevchenko very happy as she stood inside the world famous Octagon after the bout with her hands on her hips. In her post-fight interview with longtime commentator Joe Rogan, Shevchenko pulled no punches on how she felt about suffering her second loss to Nunes.

“I really don’t understand why the victory goes to the other side,” Shevchenko said (transcript courtesy of MMA Fighting). For two takedowns in five rounds? She didn’t hit me with one punch. Nothing significant. Look at her face. Her nose is red from my punches. Why she is still (champion), I don’t understand. Even when I was on the ground, I kicked very hard from the ground position and I really don’t understand why (Nunes won).”

“I think that she didn’t want to be in this fight. She didn’t hit this fight…not one punch. Just like these kicks, these are her kicks,” she said as she kicked the air lightly. I hit hard…I hit hard. This is the reason I hit hard,” she explained, pointing to the cut she suffered on her shin. “But this one?” she asked, again lightly kicking the air.

Shevchenko would go onto say that she didn’t agree with the judges’ scorecards. She insisted that she would win if she met Nunes for the third time. A third fight is not likely due to the fact that Nunes has won both previous bouts and because the UFC 215 PPV buy rate is not expected to do that well.

“I definitely will win this next fight. I won this fight, and I totally disagree with this decision going to the other side. I disagree.”

Shevchenko continued to sound off on the decision while speaking with reporters at the post-fight press conference. This was when she claimed that she felt she had won the first three rounds.

“My thoughts on this fight…first of all, I respect decision of judge, but I don’t agree with the decision at all,” she said. I think this fight…in three rounds this was my points…I won these three rounds. In the final fifth round, only one takedown and she didn’t do nothing, just one takedown. And for this takedown to give victory, I don’t agree with this. Even when I was on the ground I was landing more punches, and she was just holding the position, nothing more.”

“After the first round, it was pretty close. Second, third and fourth it was mine. And fifth…all the rounds it was mine. Just one takedown, I think about this, the judge gave one to the other side. Even this takedown, it was only a control position, and I was landing more punches from being on the ground.”

“I’m frustrated with the decision because I don’t agree totally. My opinion, if it will be victory, it should be victory, like, clear. In this fight, I see more tactical. You can see on her face and my face who landed more punches. I had on my shin stitches because, I don’t know, maybe her teeth. It was cut in, bleeding. I totally disagree.”

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Valentina Shevchenko Isn’t Buying Amanda Nunes’ Excuse For UFC 213 Fight Cancellation

There is still talk about UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes’ decision to withdraw from UFC 213. Nunes received a mixed reaction after she revealed that she dealt with a bad bout of sinusitis that kept her out of the five-round rematch with Valentina Shevchenko at the event. Some people have supported her, and some […]

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There is still talk about UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes’ decision to withdraw from UFC 213.

Nunes received a mixed reaction after she revealed that she dealt with a bad bout of sinusitis that kept her out of the five-round rematch with Valentina Shevchenko at the event. Some people have supported her, and some have criticized.

If you recall, UFC President Dana White was the first to reveal that she had technically been cleared to compete after two trips to the hospital.

Shortly after UFC 213, the UFC was attempting to book the Nunes vs. Shevchenko rematch at UFC 215, which takes place Sept. 9 at Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The fight has been made, but it will not serve as the co-main event. A flyweight title bout between champion Demetrious Johnson and Ray Borg will headline the event, which is the UFC’s next PPV event.

Shevchenko recently spoke with Ariel Helwani of The MMA Hour and continued to talk about the fight cancellation.

“It’s difficult to say the real reason because the reason real just she knows,” Shevchenko said on Thursday’s edition of The MMA Hour, “and what I know exactly (is) we cannot believe everything that she’s saying because one time she’s saying one thing and some days she’s saying different things.”

Asked about the sinusitis explanation, Shevchenko said “I don’t believe in this.”

“My opinion why she did it like, in reality, it was only because she was cutting weight too much in 24 hours and she was feeling very weak,” she said.

“Everything can happen,” Shevchenko said. “Speaking about her, you cannot be 100 percent sure. I can speak about me, and I will be ready 100%, doesn’t matter what. If she is planning to do it again, it will not be good for her.”

By looking back on history, Shevchenko earned the title shot after picking up back-to-back wins over Holly Holm and Julianna Pena. Now, she feels even better now compared to her training camp for UFC 213.

“Now we’re training in Denver, Colorado, and I’m feeling very strong,” said Shevchenko, who is training with strawweight contender Rose Namajunas. “I can say I’m feeling stronger than I was, and I have the same goal, the same target. I want this belt as same as I wanted, and doesn’t matter what I will take it.”

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Dana White: Amanda Nunes’ Illness ’90 Percent Mental’ Before UFC 213

Early yesterday afternoon just hours before UFC 213 was set to take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, it was announced that bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes had fallen ill and would no longer be competing against Valentina Shevchenko in their scheduled main event bout. While Nunes has cited a sickness as her reason for withdrawing from […]

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While Nunes has cited a sickness as her reason for withdrawing from the bout, UFC President Dana White said that ‘she was physically OK’ to fight:

“Leading up to [Friday’s] ceremonial weigh-ins, I got a call that she wasn’t feeling well, and it was questionable whether she was going to show up to the ceremonials,” White said at the post-fight press conference. “Because the doctor needed to see her and they needed to find out what was going on with her, so, she does them, everything’s good.”

“This morning, I wake up and I hear that she’s not feeling well again,” White continued. “And … she’s not feeling well again and she’s probably not going to fight. So, I asked the doctors what’s wrong with her. She was medically cleared. She was physically OK, they found nothing wrong with her, but she didn’t feel right.”

White continued on, saying that he believes Nunes’ situation was more mental than physical. The UFC boss also said that he will not schedule Nunes to headline another card after yesterday’s debacle:

“It’s not like she was like ‘I’m absolutely refusing to fight,’” White said. “She said ‘I don’t feel right, I don’t feel good.’ I think that it was 90 percent mental and maybe 10 percent physical, I think a lot of fighters have had times where they don’t feel right.

“These situations arise all the time,” White later added. “I don’t think we’ve ever had a situation like today, though, where she was physically capable of fighting.”

“I won’t do that again,” he said. “I won’t headline with that title again.”

What do you make of White’s comments?

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Amanda Nunes: I Have To Keep Winning & Put On A Show

UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes has quietly established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the 135-pound division, although she hasn’t received as much attention as she likely deserves. The “Lioness” has picked up back-to-back stoppage victories over bantamweight greats Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, but she knows she has to ‘keep […]

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The “Lioness” has picked up back-to-back stoppage victories over bantamweight greats Miesha Tate and Ronda Rousey, but she knows she has to ‘keep winning’ and keep putting ‘on a show’ in order to receive the recognition of a championship level fighter:

“Everybody knows how it was with the Ronda promo,” Nunes laughed. “I think I got more attention against Miesha than when I defended my belt, when I was champion. I got more attention when I was the challenger than when I was the champion,” she told UFC.com. “I still have to keep proving myself, I have to keep winning and put on a show. It’s not going to be easy — it takes time until people realize ‘she’s the real deal’ or whatever they’re gonna think. It’s long, but one day people will think I’m the best here.”

Nunes will once again headline a pay-per-view event during International Fight Week this year, as she’s set to rematch top contender Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of UFC 213 this weekend (July 8, 2017) from Las Vegas, Nevada. It’s just another step on the journey for Nunes, but that doesn’t seem to bother her:

“I think the thing that I have to show is that I can keep evolving and winning fights, but I’m okay with that,” she added. “My whole life has been like that. This thing doesn’t bother me because it is what it is. If you have to go through this, I’m stronger for going through this.”

Do you expect Nunes to continue her winning streak against Shevchenko?

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