Tonight’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 main card from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado delivered a wild mix of hard-hitting action for MMA fans, and as a result, each winner of the four featured bouts deservedly took home a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus. The first justifiably went to main event
Tonight’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 main card from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado delivered a wild mix of hard-hitting action for MMA fans, and as a result, each winner of the four featured bouts deservedly took home a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” bonus.
The first justifiably went to main event winner Valentina Shevchenko, who shocked talented grappler Julianna Pena with a second-round armbar victory (watch full video highlights here) that should line her up for a title fight with current champion Amanda Nunes.
Not to be outdone by any means, rising weltrweight veteran Jorge Masvidal finally arrived as a force in the octagon after years as a talented under-the-radar competitor by stopping surging hometown favorite Donald Cerrone in the co-main event. ‘Gamebred’ had ‘Cowboy’ in major trouble towards the end of the first round, where many felt Herb Dean could have -and perhaps did – call off the bout. But the contest was allowed to continue on, and on obviously still-rocked Cerrone was put out of his misery by a vicious onslaught of body shots.
Touted heavyweight freight train Francis Ngannou earned the third bonus by securing his fifth straight finish to start his UFC career by claiming his biggest scalp ever in former champion Andrei Arlovski with a massive first-round uppercut.
Finally, featherweight prospect Jason Knight continued his rise by submitting veteran Alex Caceres with a picturesque choke in the second round.
A title shot against surging women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes wa potentially on the line when Valentina Shevchenko met Julianna Pena in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. And when it was all said and done, “Bullet” had left absolutely no doubt
A title shot against surging women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes wa potentially on the line when Valentina Shevchenko met Julianna Pena in the main event of tonight’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
And when it was all said and done, “Bullet” had left absolutely no doubt a to whom the most deserving 135-pound woman in the UFC was. In the days leading up to the high stakes bout, many thought ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ would hold the wrestling and grappling edge, but it was actually Muay Thai champion Shevchenko who proved she had the superior ground game in Denver.
After scoring two telling takedowns early, Shevchenko was taken to the mat in the second round by Pena, where the TUF 18 winner seemed to regain the advantage by controlling the fight. But “Bullet” soon turned the tables with a awe-inpisring armbar that left a twisting Pena no choice but to tap. After the win, Shevchenko got her in-fight staredown with Nunes to hype up the biggest fight in the women’s bantamweight division.
Watch the full fight video highlights of her biggest-ever win right here:
With Ronda Rousey’s career possibly over, the UFC women’s bantamweight division is officially trying to move on. The first step in doing so? Determining the next challenger for reigning champion Amanda Nunes. While picking out the top contender ca…
With Ronda Rousey’s career possibly over, the UFC women’s bantamweight division is officially trying to move on. The first step in doing so? Determining the next challenger for reigning champion Amanda Nunes. While picking out the top contender can sometimes be a difficult task, the women’s bantamweight was down to a two-horse race between UFC on Fox 23 main eventers Julianna Pena and Valentina Shevchenko.
Pena established herself as one of the most compelling young talents at 135 pounds on The Ultimate Fighter 18. Racking up wins over women’s MMA pioneer Shayna Baszler, former rival Sarah Moras and accomplished boxer Jessica Rakoczy, she set herself up to become an instant contender in what was at the time a shallow division.
A catastrophic knee injury saw her shelved for a prolonged length of time. But any doubts about her progression or health were dismissed when she returned in 2015 and broke off three consecutive wins, including a clean decision over former top contender Cat Zingano. That put her on strong footing for a title shot and likely would have been enough to secure her one, if not for Shevchenko’s sudden rise.
That rise came at UFC on Fox 20. After taking a solid win over Sarah Kaufman in her UFC debut, Shevchenko was given a bout against Nunes in her second fight with the promotion. While she lost a straightforward 29-28 decision, she demonstrated strong cardio, resiliency and grappling to go along with her established striking. And that earned her a high-profile fight opposite Holly Holm.
Despite entering the fight as an underdog, Shevchenko shocked fans and pundits by neutralizing the former champ’s offense and scoring a unanimous 49-46 decision win. That win, and the strong ratings it produced, vaulted Shevchenko right back into the title picture, despite her owing a loss from the champ that is less than a year old.
That gave this UFC on Fox 23 tilt big, clear stakes in the bantamweight division and beyond. And that bright spotlight gave Shevchenko a big opportunity to shine.
From the very beginning, both women’s approaches were clear. Pena inched forward and steadily lowered herself for a shot while Shevchenko fought behind her punches. At first, it seemed like this would favor Pena, as she controlled much of the action with her clinch work, but Shevchenko managed to keep her striking in check with well-timed trips. Pena hunted for submissions from underneath, but ultimately Shevchenko took the round, likely on her minutes-long control from the top.
The second round was much of the same, but this time, Pena managed to avoid Shevchenko’s sneaky clinch takedowns and eventually score a takedown of her own. That moral victory, however, was quickly followed by a legitimate loss.
After absorbing some punches in full guard position, Shevchenko whipped her hips around and locked up a lightning-quick armbar. Pena attempted to roll her way out, but Shevchenko stuck with her every move and forced the tap.
It was a shocking ending to a fight where Pena was expected to own a major advantage on the ground, and one that cements Shevchenko’s place as an elite-level bantamweight. After the official decision was read, Nunes entered the Octagon and seemingly accepted a proposed rematch with the former muay thai champion.
Whether that rematch happens is a question for another time, but it’s hard to dismiss Shevchenko’s chances, should it come to pass.
If you slumbered on UFC on Fox 23, you missed a title eliminator bout, one of the best action fights possible in the welterweight division and the most exciting prospect in the heavyweight division.
You also missed Bruce Leeroy and The Kid.
A lot…
If you slumbered on UFC on Fox 23, you missed a title eliminator bout, one of the best action fights possible in the welterweight division and the most exciting prospect in the heavyweight division.
You also missed Bruce Leeroy and The Kid.
A lot was going on Saturday night on this UFC card in Denver, wedged into Pro Bowl weekend. In the main event, Valentina Shevchenko and Julianna Pena, respectively the first- and second-ranked women’s bantamweights on the UFC roster, did battle to see who would face champion Amanda Nunes.
In the co-main event, dynamic welterweights Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal faced each other. If that doesn’t sell itself, you don’t buy much of anything in MMA.
Later on the main card, heavyweight up-and-comer Francis Ngannou tried to get over against veteran Andrei Arlovski.
And those are only three of the evening’s 12 fights. As usual, the final stat lines only reveal so much. These are the real winners and losers from UFC on Fox 23.
This evening’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 is in the books from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. Top-ranked women’s bantamweight Valentina Shevchenko met second-ranked Julianna Pena for pivotal title positioning in the main event, with ‘Bullet’ submitting the brash TUF 18 winner with a picture-perfect armbar in the second round. In
This evening’s (Sat., January 28, 2017) UFC on FOX 23 is in the books from the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.
Top-ranked women’s bantamweight Valentina Shevchenko met second-ranked Julianna Pena for pivotal title positioning in the main event, with ‘Bullet’ submitting the brash TUF 18 winner with a picture-perfect armbar in the second round.
In the co-main event, hometown favorite Donald Cerrone met veteran Jorge Masvidal in an exciting welterweight scrap where ‘Gamebred’ shocked the crowd by running through ‘Cowboy’ early in the second round after badly rocking him at the end of the first.
Elsewhere on the main card, quickly rising heavyweight prospect Francis Ngannou got by far the biggest win of his young UFC career by starching former champ Andrei Arlovski in the first round, and featherweight prospect Jason Knight picked up his biggest win as well, defeating The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) competitor Alex Caceres with a second-round rear-naked choke.
Check out the event’s post-fight press conference starting shortly after the main card right here:
The stage was set for the main event of UFC on FOX 23. After the first three bouts on the main card ended in finishes, it was time for Valentina Shevchenko (14-2) and Julianna Pena (8-3) to shine. “Bullet’s” star shined the brightest on this night. Pena looked to close the distance immediately. She tied
The stage was set for the main event of UFC on FOX 23. After the first three bouts on the main card ended in finishes, it was time for Valentina Shevchenko (14-2) and Julianna Pena (8-3) to shine.
“Bullet’s” star shined the brightest on this night.
Pena looked to close the distance immediately. She tied up her opponent against the fence. Pena landed some knees to the body. Shevchenko ended up scoring a takedown. “The Venezuelan Vixen” got up quickly and regained control in the clinch.
“Bullet” tripped Pena down to the canvas again. Shevchenko wound up in full guard after landing some hammerfists. Pena went for an armbar, but the round was over.
The second round began and Pena moved into the clinch. They were right back in the same position they were to start the opening round. Pena went for a takedown, but to no avail. She tried again, but this time she completed it. Shevchenko went for an armbar, she got it and forced the tap.
Final Result: Valentina Shevchenko def. Julianna Pena via submission (armbar) – Round 2, 4:29
With Ronda Rousey’s career possibly over, the UFC women’s bantamweight division is officially trying to move on. The first step in doing so? Determining the next challenger for reigning champion