UFC on FOX 20 went down earlier this evening (July 23, 2016) from the Windy City in Chicago, Illinois. The main event featured a pivotal women’s bantamweight clash between decorated strikers Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm and Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko. The co-main event of the evening also featured an important matchup as lightweights Edson “Junior”
UFC on FOX 20 went down earlier this evening (July 23, 2016) from the Windy City in Chicago, Illinois. The main event featured a pivotal women’s bantamweight clash between decorated strikers Holly “The Preacher’s Daughter” Holm and Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko.
The co-main event of the evening also featured an important matchup as lightweights Edson “Junior” Barboza and Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez went to battle.
Check out what the fighters had to say in the aftermath of the event at the post-fight press conference courtesy of the UFC below:
The co-main event of UFC on FOX 20 tonight (July 23, 2016) featured two lightweights trying to inject themselves into the title picture. Vaunted Brazilian striker Edson Barboza battled former Strikeforce ace Gilbert Melendez. “El Nino” flicks out two jabs then comes around with an overhand right that lands. Barboza responds with a leg kick.
The co-main event of UFC on FOX 20 tonight (July 23, 2016) featured two lightweights trying to inject themselves into the title picture. Vaunted Brazilian striker Edson Barboza battled former Strikeforce ace Gilbert Melendez.
“El Nino” flicks out two jabs then comes around with an overhand right that lands. Barboza responds with a leg kick. The two exchange punches but nothing lands flush. Melendez shoots, but the Brazilian shucks him off. Melendez misses with two right hooks, and Barboza almost connects with a counter right. “El Nino” fakes a shot to try to hit an overhand but Barboza spins away. Melendez looks for a front kick as they separate, but it’s short. The Skrap Pack rep lands a right uppercut, but is met with a left uppercut and hook from Barboza. Barboza hits a kick to the body, but Melendez catches it and almost takes him down, but Barboza is able to escape after eating a knee to the body along the fence. Barboza lands a few leg kicks and then a spinning back kick to the body. Melendez lands a right uppercut, and the two connect simultaneously on left hooks. Melendez lands a straight right, slips a counter left hook beautifully, and throws a multi-punch combo that is mostly blocked. Barboza lands a couple jabs, but the rest of his combo comes up short. Barboza hits Melendez’s body with a wickedly fast body kick. With a minute left in the fight, the two exchange punches in the center of the cage, both landing cleanly at times. Barboza pushes Melendez back with a couple kicks, but Gilbert pushes right back to the center. The exciting round ends with Barboza uncorking a jumping knee, but it doesn’t really land.
Round two begins with the two exchanging left hooks again. Both men are throwing a lot, slipping some, but absorbing plenty of punches. Barboza flicks out a couple jabs, but Melendez counters with a hard straight. Melendez shoots, but Barboza slips away and Melendez falls to his back. Barboza kicks at his legs for a moment before stepping away and letting him up. He lands a brutal outside leg kick that drops Melendez, who pops right back up. But he is met with another that staggers him. Gilbert throws a 1-2, but is met with another low kick. Barboza throws a wicked switch kick to body, followed by a head kick that is blocked. Melendez lands a flush overhand right that has Barboza wobbled and in retreat. He lands again, but Barboza bites down and slings back. The two momentarily clinch, but quickly separate and return to the center. There is a lull in the action as the two feint on the edge of range. Barboza steps in with a cross, but Melendez slips and lands one of his own. The Brazilian responds with another outside leg kick. Barboza misses with a winging left hook. A Melendez body kick is caught and Barboza takes him down. He rains down hard right hands as the round comes to a close.
Rounds begins with two more leg kicks from the Brazilian. Melendez hits a 1-2, but backs away after the second kick. Barboza lands two more but eats a right hook from the former Strikeforce champ. Barboza continues to attack the lead leg of “El Nino”, whose movement is extremely compromised. Melendez throws a 1-2 but it is well short as he can’t move after Barboza. Melendez lands a body shot, but absorbs another leg strike. The Skrap Pack leader shoots but can’t follow through and Barboza easily escapes. Forever game, Melendez throws bombs when he can close the distance, but it is not often enough. Barboza is using his footwork and speed to stay well away from his hurt opponent. With a minute left, Barboza flicks out an inside leg kick. Another 1-2 from Melendez falls short. The two lightweights circle for a time. With 15 seconds left the two stand in the pocket and trade a few punches, but quickly separate. As the final ten seconds tick off the clock, the two lightweights step away from each other and raise their hands. They embrace after the bell.
UFC on FOX 20 goes down this Saturday July 23 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Of course it’s weigh-ins day here at LowKickMMA, and the goods on offer indicate the FOX card could be one of the biggest sleepers of the year. Headlining the action is former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm, looking
UFC on FOX 20 goes down this Saturday July 23 from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. Of course it’s weigh-ins day here at LowKickMMA, and the goods on offer indicate the FOX card could be one of the biggest sleepers of the year. Headlining the action is former women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm, looking to get back on track after a submission loss to Miesha Tate at UFC 196.
Facing ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ is an up and coming force in the division. Valentina Schevchenko headlines her first UFC card and will also come up against a seriously dangerous striker in Holm. How about the lightweight co-main event between Edson Barboza and the returning Gilbert Melendez? The two exciting strikers will pit technique against sheer will and grit in what could easily be fight of the night.
Heavyweights Francis Ngannou and Bojan Mihajlovic will do battle, and women’s strawweights Felice Herrig and Kailin Curran will no doubt put on a great show.
So join us for the live streaming official weigh-ins at 5PM ET, or check in a few hours prior (the early weigh-ins will have the updated results) or right after to catch the replay!
Event: UFC on FOX 20 “Holm vs. Shevchenko” Date: Sat., July 23, 2016, on FOX Location: United Center in Chicago, Illinois
Main card (FOX at 8 p.m. ET) Holly Holm (135) vs. Valentina Shevchenko (133) Edson Barboza (155) vs. Gilbert Melendez (155) Francis Ngannou (259) vs. Bojan Mihajlovic (228) Felice Herrig (115) vs. Kailin Curran (116) Undercard (FOX at 6 p.m. ET) Frankie Saenz (135) vs. Eddie Wineland (135) Darren Elkins (145) vs. Godofredo Pepey (145) Kamaru Usman (170) vs. Alexander Yakovlev (170) Michel Prazeres (155) vs. J.C. Cottrell (155) Undercard (UFC Fight Pass at 4:30 p.m. ET) Alex Oliveira (170) vs. James Moontasri (170) Jim Alers (145) vs. Jason Knight (145) Luis Henrique (253) vs. Dmitry Smolyakov (251)
Holly Holm vs. Valentina Shevchenko: Mike Drahota: This bout presents an ultra-interesting match-up of two of the women’s bantamweight division’s best strikers, and certainly its most decorated. Coming off her upset loss to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, boxing champion Holm has everything to lose, while Muay Thai champion Shevchenko has nothing to lose. “Bullet”
This bout presents an ultra-interesting match-up of two of the women’s bantamweight division’s best strikers, and certainly its most decorated. Coming off her upset loss to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, boxing champion Holm has everything to lose, while Muay Thai champion Shevchenko has nothing to lose. “Bullet” is by far the lesser-known fighter, and her last fight was a loss to current champion Amanda Nunes, also at UFC 196. But that doesn’t tell the whole story, as Shevchenko had “The Lioness” on the ropes when the third round ended.
Regardless, this main event promises to be a power-packed striking affair, with both looking to stay one step ahead of their opponent on the feet. Holm should prevail if it stays at range, and it’s tough to decipher just who has the power advantage in this one. If it goes to the cinch, it should favor Shevchenko, and Holm’s highly suspect ground game could be tested if ‘Bullet’ decides to surprise her with a few takedowns. Holm simply needs this win though to get back into the title picture, and I think she stays largely on the outside to outscore Shevchenko. It’s a vanilla pick, but I’m going with Holm by unanimous decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Holly Holm will be looking to bounce back from the brutal loss to Miesha Tate at UFC 195, and there won’t be a better time to do it after ‘Cupcake’ got dethroned at UFC 200. For Shevchenko, it’s about defeating a huge name in the former UFC champion and women’s boxing great, but a hill I feel will be far too steep to climb. ‘The Preacher’s Daughter’ just has too much in the bag, and I see a unanimous decision on the cards for Holm.
Mike Henken:
Shevchenko is without question one of the best strikers in the bantamweight division as she holds a professional kickboxing record of 58-3. That success has transferred nicely over to MMA, where she currently stands at 14-2 after her recent a loss to reigning champion Nunes. Holm also has a decorated striking background as a multi-time former boxing champion and is coming off of a loss to Tate, but I simply feel as if she has the more well-rounded mixed martial arts skillset in this bout. I also feel as if her experience and motivation to recapture the title will play a part here. Holm by third-round TKO.
Edson Barboza vs. Gilbert Melendez:
Mike Drahota:
A pivotal co-main event for both Melendez and Barboza’s careers, both men will have several question marks heading into this bout. For former Strikeforce champ Melendez, it’s how he returns from a yearlong layoff due to a drug-related suspension following two losses to Eddie Alvarez and Anthony Pettis. For Barboza, it’s whether or not he can finally win a big fight against an elite fighter in a critical spot.
The Brazilian Muay Thai artist looked nothing less than surgical during his UFC 197 win over Pettis, but he’s also faded in big spots against the likes of Tony Ferguson, Donald Cerrone, and Michael Johnson. Barboza will need to rise to the occasion here and pick Melendez’ less refined striking apart from range, fending off the inevitable takedown attempts that will come his way. Melendez has the heart and power to put any lightweight away on a good night, but I feel his layoff may affect his performance against such a dynamic striker here. My pick is Barboza by decision.
Rory Kernaghan:
Melendez vs. Barboza is a great fight – two feisty lightweights who always show up for war, but an interesting contrast in styles. Barboza likes to keep the range long to whip in powerful kicks, but ‘El Nino’ wants to bring the fight to your front door with his gritty phone booth style. It’s more about who will be able to implement their gameplan and keep the fight within their chosen range. It’s a bit of a coin toss really, and you know how Melendez is going to fight, but Barboza has proven to be cagey in some big fights. I’m gonna go with my gut and call it Melendez by decision.
Mike Henken:
Melendez is a tough and gritty fighter with a wealth of championship level experience, but he’s also coming off of a lengthy layoff after being suspended due to a failed drug test. Barboza, on the other hand, has looked excellent as of late, winning two of his last three, and coming off of a victory over former champion Pettis. I feel as if “Junior’s” lethal striking game will lead him to victory here. Barboza by unanimous decision.
Ahead of their highly-anticipated fight in the co-featured slot of the UFC On FOX 20 card in Chicago, Illinois this weekend, two highly regarded UFC lightweight contenders talk about their strategy for their big showdown…
https://youtu.be/HffNvl1P3wA
Ahead of their highly-anticipated fight in the co-featured slot of the UFC On FOX 20 card in Chicago, Illinois this weekend, two highly regarded UFC lightweight contenders talk about their strategy for their big showdown.
Featured above is “The Matchup” video for the Gilbert Melendez vs. Edson Barboza co-main event for UFC On FOX 20. The fight features the return from suspension of former Strikeforce Lightweight Champion and UFC title contender Melendez, as well as the first fight since the high-profile victory over former UFC Lightweight Champion Anthony Pettis for Barboza.
The official description for “Fight Night Chicago: The Matchup – Barboza vs Melendez” reads as follows:
“Go inside the matchup of an important lightweight clash between Edson Barboza and Gilbert Melendez. The two square off in the Octagon on Saturday in the co-main event at Fight Night Chicago on FOX.”
UFC On FOX 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko takes place on Saturday, July 23rd from Allstate Arena in Chicago, Illinois. Check back here at MMANews.com on Saturday evening for a complete UFC On FOX 20 recap.
UFC on Fox 20 has a lightweight co-main event that fans will be standing to watch.
The human highlight reel that is Edson Barboza (17-4) takes on the returning Gilbert Melendez (22-5) in Chicago. Barboza checks in at No. 7 on the Bleacher Report MMA ra…
UFC on Fox 20 has a lightweight co-main event that fans will be standing to watch.
Barboza is coming off a win over former UFC champion Anthony Pettis at UFC 197. The performance erased the stinging defeat he suffered at the hands of Tony Ferguson in December and put him back in elite company in the division. Melendez returns after more than a year away and hopes to avoid losing three straight.
Two high-output strikers will meet and exchange, but only one will move forward in the shark-infested waters of the UFC’s lightweight division.
How does this fight break down? Who will come out on top in Chicago? Those are the questions we are here to answer. This is your look at UFC on Fox 20’s co-main event from head to toe.
