Tag: Taila Santos

Shevchenko Claims Santos Fight Was “Exactly” What She Wanted

Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is satisfied after passing the toughest test of her title reign at UFC 275. Speaking at the post-fight press conference following her split-decision win over Taila Santos, the 34-year-old claimed the fight went exactly how she was hoping. “I did everything that I had to do,” Shevchenko said. “I had…

Continue Reading Shevchenko Claims Santos Fight Was “Exactly” What She Wanted at MMA News.

Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is satisfied after passing the toughest test of her title reign at UFC 275.

Speaking at the post-fight press conference following her split-decision win over Taila Santos, the 34-year-old claimed the fight went exactly how she was hoping.

“I did everything that I had to do,” Shevchenko said. “I had a (challenging) fight, and I (went the) distance, five rounds. And this is exactly what I wanted: an opponent who (was) not giving up from the first second, going to the end.”

The champion went on to explain the value of facing a challenger that pushed her the way Santos did.

“And in this kind of fight, you can really show what you’re made of: your character, your mindset. You kinda get what is yours: victory, no matter how hard, no matter how difficult. It’s showing who you are. So I’m happy.”

Shevchenko Explains Why Judges Scored The Fight In Her Favor

Shevchenko’s seventh title defense was easily her most challenging. Santos was able to use her wrestling to control “Bullet” for large periods of the bout and even threaten for submissions.

According to the 34-year-old, there was never any real danger of her being finished.

“Nothing surprised me. And I really didn’t have any position — even when she was on my back, I didn’t feel trouble, kinda like, ‘Oh, my god. This is tight,’ and you have to work on your character to escape this.”

The scoring of the bout drew some controversy online, but Shevchenko echoed a sentiment that has been a regular headline in the MMA world as of late: damage is of greater value than position.

“And more than that, she kind of was inactive. And me, even being in that position, I was striking. And I (felt) the power of the strike, and I felt how she (reacted) because it was hurting her. And this is what counts the most in mixed martial arts: damage. And through the fight, going from round to round, you can see more damage showing on her face, more and more. And this is kind of like, no matter what position, you have to work your job.”

Serving as the co-main event of UFC 275, Shevchenko’s victory over Santos was the only bout of the event’s main card to go the distance.

The main event’s light heavyweight title fight looked like it was also bound for a decision, but challenger Ji?í Procházka snatched a submission with less than 30 seconds left and forced a tap from champion Glover Teixeira.

What do you think of Shevchenko’s comments about her fight with Taila Santos?

Continue Reading Shevchenko Claims Santos Fight Was “Exactly” What She Wanted at MMA News.

Taila Santos Surgery Needed For Broken Orbital Bone After a Clash of Heads At UFC 275 With Valentina Shevchenko

Taila Santos SurgeryAfter an insane performance at UFC 275, it has been confirmed that Taila Santos will need surgery for a broken orbital bone she sustained during her fight with Valentina Shevchenko after an accidental clash of heads. UFC 275 was a ridiculously great night of fights, but few fighters if any proved themselves more than Santos […]

Taila Santos Surgery

After an insane performance at UFC 275, it has been confirmed that Taila Santos will need surgery for a broken orbital bone she sustained during her fight with Valentina Shevchenko after an accidental clash of heads.

UFC 275 was a ridiculously great night of fights, but few fighters if any proved themselves more than Santos did in her fight with ‘The Bullet’. It was a combination of striking success and grappling domination, but one thing was for certain. Taila Santos was on fire.

However, the judges saw it differently and Valentina Shevchenko was awarded the decision victory after a full five rounds and 25-minutes of intensity. Santos was ushered to the hospital, where doctors discovered the broken bone and informed Santos and her team that surgery would in fact be inevitable.

Taila Santos Surgery Confirmed By Management, and What’s Next for the Flyweight Division?

Tiago Okamura, Santos’ manager, spoke to MMA Fighting about the situation:

“We had two options,” Okamura began. “To have surgery here, and God knows how long we’d have to stay how (long) the recovery would take, or wait two weeks for the swelling to reduce a little bit and then have the surgery.”

“The doctors said the long flight (back to Santos’ country of Brazil) would not be a problem, and we would have a better support (system) back home, since (Santos) would only stay with one person (in Singapore).”

Taila Santos (19-2, 4-2 UFC) gave the flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko more trouble than anybody has in recent memory. ‘The Bullet’ kept finding herself being taken down, and the Brazilian would find crafty ways to threaten submissions, take the back, and transition.

It was indeed the biggest challenge of Shevchenko’s career minus maybe the Amanda Nunes fights, but still, that is not bad company for Taila Santos’ name to be around.

What’s the Future of the Women’s UFC Flyweight Division?

So, what’s next for Valentina Shevchenko and the flyweight division? Well, it may be too soon to say. One thing that’s for certain is that Santos did look impressive enough to maybe even be worthy of an instant rematch. And if not, then things aren’t very open right now.

Top contenders in the top five have fights booked already. Katlyn Chookagian is #2 ranked in the world, but she’s already lost to Shevchenko and has a fight against #3 ranked Manon Fiorot scheduled.

The only fighter that’s ranked in the top ten and doesn’t have a match currently booked (who already hasn’t lost to ‘The Bullet’) is Casey O’Neil. She’s riding an insane four-fight win streak that includes a victory over the younger Shevchenko sister, Antonina. Who would you like to see face Valentina Shevchenko next, or should Taila Santos get an instant rematch?

Also, do you think the judges scored the fight wrong or did ‘The Bullet’ truly deserve the decision victory?

Valentina Shevchenko Reveals She Entered UFC 275 With Pre-existing Foot Injury

Valentina ShevchenkoWomen’s UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko revealed that she entered her UFC 275 title bout with Taila Santos with a pre-existing foot injury. Valentina Shevchenko successfully made her seventh defense of her flyweight championship in Singapore, edging a split decision. However, in a contest that could have fallen in Santos’s favor. The scorecards read 49-46 […]

Valentina Shevchenko

Women’s UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko revealed that she entered her UFC 275 title bout with Taila Santos with a pre-existing foot injury.

Valentina Shevchenko successfully made her seventh defense of her flyweight championship in Singapore, edging a split decision. However, in a contest that could have fallen in Santos’s favor. The scorecards read 49-46 and 48-47 on two of the judges for the champion. One judge scored the fight 48-47 for Santos.

The challenger made it an extremely difficult night for Shevchenko, who eventually looked human after cruising her way through contenders since becoming the champion. Both women clashed heads after a strong start from Santos, with Santos coming off worse, which caused a notable momentum switch.

Valentina Shevchenko Reveals Foot Injury Prior to UFC 275 Title Fight

In her post-fight interview backstage with Megan Olivi, Shevchenko said that she had stepped into the Octagon with a foot injury and had caused further damage after throwing kick after kick at Santos. 

“I feel amazing. I stepped into the fight injured with my foot, but it looks like, after the fight, I kicked so much, it’s a little bit more injured. Besides the foot, we are going to have an X-ray after, but besides this injury, I feel amazing.”

Megan Olivi asked the question of where Santos ranked as a challenger as opposed to her previous opponents, giving the razor-close fight.

“I think she’s a very good, very tough opponent and definitely kind of a heavier person.”

The victory moved Shevchenko to (23-3) in her career, taking her win streak to nine. Santos gave the champion her most difficult fight in some time, and it’s a fight we can expect to see run back next or down the line.

Santos saw her four-fight win streak end in Singapore, falling to (19-2) in her professional mixed martial arts career. Although being unsuccessful in attaining gold, the Brazilian fighter earned respect from the whole roster and fans worldwide. A loss on paper, but her stock grew after five hard rounds.

Shevchenko Reveals Grim Reason There Was No UFC 275 Victory Dance

Fresh from defending her women’s flyweight title at UFC 275, Valentina Shevchenko has revealed that she skipped her customary victory dance due to a foot injury. Shevchenko did just enough to earn a split decision victory against Taila Santos tonight. The champ had her work cut out for her, however, with Santos outgrappling Shevchenko in…

Continue Reading Shevchenko Reveals Grim Reason There Was No UFC 275 Victory Dance at MMA News.

Fresh from defending her women’s flyweight title at UFC 275, Valentina Shevchenko has revealed that she skipped her customary victory dance due to a foot injury.

Shevchenko did just enough to earn a split decision victory against Taila Santos tonight. The champ had her work cut out for her, however, with Santos outgrappling Shevchenko in the opening rounds. But when a clash of heads resulted in Santos’ eye swelling up, Shevchenko took advantage and quickly dominated with some smart striking and a takedown of her own.

It was the seventh time Shevchenko had defended her flyweight title since first winning it back in 2018. And it was the first time the 34-year-old has been seriously challenged in the flyweight division. Shevchenko’s only career defeats have all come at 135 pounds, having lost twice to Amanda Nunes and once to Liz Carmouche.

Shevchenko
PHOTO: GETTY

Shevchenko Says She Fought Santos With A Foot Injury

It’s fair to say that Shevchenko didn’t look her usual unbeatable self at UFC 275, and much of that could be put down to Santos. But at the post fight press conference, Valentina revealed that she went into the fight with an injury, preventing her from performing her customary victory dance.

“Yes, I was ready to do that, but coming into the fight, I was injured,” said Shevchenko. “My foot was injured. In all week (during fight week), UFC Performance Institute, physical therapists, they was working on my foot to get it back into the best shape. And few kicks that I had (were) super strong.

“And it’s injured, my foot. That’s why I was willing to dance, but I don’t know. We still have to do X-ray. I hope it’s nothing serious that could delay my return to the Octagon. But this is the reason why I didn’t dance.” 

Despite the injury, Shevchenko expressed hopes of being able to fight at least one more time this year, potentially against the winner of the upcoming Miesha Tate vs. Lauren Murphy fight or moving up to 135 to challenge winner of Nunes vs. Peña 2.

What do you think of Valentina Shevchenko fighting with a foot injury?

Continue Reading Shevchenko Reveals Grim Reason There Was No UFC 275 Victory Dance at MMA News.

Fighters React to Valentina Shevchenko Holding Off Santos

Valentina Shevchenko is still your UFC women’s flyweight champion after just holding off Taila Santos at UFC 275. Shevchenko entered the fight with six successful title defenses as flyweight champion. “Bullet” has clearly established herself as one of the most dominant champions in mixed martial arts (MMA) history. However, she had her hands full with…

Continue Reading Fighters React to Valentina Shevchenko Holding Off Santos at MMA News.

Valentina Shevchenko is still your UFC women’s flyweight champion after just holding off Taila Santos at UFC 275.

Shevchenko entered the fight with six successful title defenses as flyweight champion. “Bullet” has clearly established herself as one of the most dominant champions in mixed martial arts (MMA) history.

However, she had her hands full with Santos tonight. Santos, the No. 4-ranked flyweight in the world, earned a title nod after putting together four-straight victories. Inside the Octagon tonight, she proved exactly why she deserved to share the cage with Shevchenko.

Santos outgrappled Shevchenko on the mat like nobody else has, with several close calls on rear-naked choke attempts. However, Shevchenko was able to pocket some rounds with smart striking, distance management, and strong groundwork of her own in the fifth round.

A nasty cut on Santos’ eye for half the fight certainly played a factor as well. Despite giving Shevchenko the most competitive fight of her championship run, Santos still came up just short, dropping a split decision loss to the champion.

Check out how the MMA community reacted to Shevchenko holding off Santos here.

How did you score the UFC 275 co-main event between Valentina Shevchenko and Taila Santos?

Continue Reading Fighters React to Valentina Shevchenko Holding Off Santos at MMA News.

Valentina Shevchenko Tested In Split Judging Win Over Taila Santos – UFC 275 Highlights

Valentina ShevchenkoValentina Shevchenko remains the undisputed UFC flyweight champion post-UFC 275 — successfully landing her seventh successful title defense courtesy of a razor-thin split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) victory over the #4 ranked contender, Taila Santos in Singapore. Failing to start all that brightly against Santos in the opening round, Shevchenko was forced to fend off […]

Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko remains the undisputed UFC flyweight champion post-UFC 275 — successfully landing her seventh successful title defense courtesy of a razor-thin split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46) victory over the #4 ranked contender, Taila Santos in Singapore.

Failing to start all that brightly against Santos in the opening round, Shevchenko was forced to fend off a rear-naked choke attempt on more than one occasion in the first frame, however, managed to survive and sweep on cue throughout the fight when tasked.

Countering well in the fourth round as well as the fifth, Shevchenko, a native of Kyrgyzstan, certainly did not have the bout all her own way throughout the twenty five minute distance against the Brazilian — who offered up a flurry of takedown attempts, grappling offensive manoeuvres.

Below, catch the highlights from Valentina Shevchenko’s close split decision win against Taila Santos