Tag: Valentina Shevchenko

Dana White: Jessica Andrade ‘A Real Problem’ For Valentina Shevchenko

Andrade ShevchenkoUFC president Dana White believes former women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade will present the first real challenge for Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight. Shevchenko has been a level above the competition at flyweight as she successfully defended her title for the fourth time following a dominant unanimous decision victory over Jennifer Maia in the UFC 255 […]

Andrade Shevchenko

UFC president Dana White believes former women’s strawweight champion Jessica Andrade will present the first real challenge for Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight.

Shevchenko has been a level above the competition at flyweight as she successfully defended her title for the fourth time following a dominant unanimous decision victory over Jennifer Maia in the UFC 255 co-headliner last night. She was notably a huge betting favorite going into the fight as she closed as high as a -2500 favorite.

The question then turned to who would be next for Shevchenko in addition to whether they can actually give her a challenge. As far as UFC president Dana White is concerned, that person is Andrade.

“I think Andrade vs. Shevchenko is a very fun fight, and the thing I love about that fight is that Shevchenko’s at a place in her career where she needs an opponent that people think actually has a chance of beating her, and I think we all know that Andrade does,” White said at the UFC 255 post-fight press conference (via MMA Fighting).

Andrade recently moved up to the flyweight division and marked her debut with an impressive TKO win over former title challenger Katlyn Chookagian last month.

With three knockouts in her last three wins, the Brazilian’s power stands out in particular for White. However, should Shevchenko get past her, there’s only one fight that makes sense and it isn’t a trilogy with Amanda Nunes.

“If you’re going to go out and be safe against somebody like Jennifer, what are you going to do against Andrade?” White added. “Andrade is going to bring her a lot of things she’s never seen before, not to mention the power Andrade has.

“She just knocked the No. 2 girl [Chookagian] in the world with a body shot. She’s a real problem for Shevchenko that [Shevchenko is] going to have to figure out, and if she does, I think the fight that makes more sense is, [Weili] Zhang will fight here soon, and after Weili fights, maybe you do those two.”

For now, Shevchenko vs. Andrade needs to take place first. And it’s something the latter has on her mind already.

“I think I can make a difference in this division,” Andrade said following her win over Chookagian. “I think I can put up a fight against Valentina. It’s something that should have happened already in other organizations, so I think I’m going to make a difference and put on shows in this division.”

Given Shevchenko’s dominance, it’s possible that is the fight that takes place next.

Do you think Andrade presents problems for Shevchenko?

7 Fights We Need to See After UFC 255

On Saturday night, the UFC promoted its penultimate pay-per-view of 2020 in UFC 255. While the card caught some flak from fans for its lack of big names and marquee fights, it featured …

On Saturday night, the UFC promoted its penultimate pay-per-view of 2020 in UFC 255. While the card caught some flak from fans for its lack of big names and marquee fights, it featured …

Valentina Shevchenko Keeps Title with UFC 255 Win by Decision vs. Jennifer Maia

Make it four in a row for Valentina Shevchenko . Bullet once again successfully defended her UFC women’s flyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Maia in the co-main event of UFC 255 from the Apex facility in Las Vegas…

Make it four in a row for Valentina Shevchenko . Bullet once again successfully defended her UFC women’s flyweight title with a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Maia in the co-main event of UFC 255 from the Apex facility in Las Vegas…

Valentina Shevchenko Decisions Jennifer Maia – UFC 255 Results

Valentina ShevchenkoIn the UFC 255 co-main event Valentina Shevchenko puts he flyweight title on the line against Jennifer Maia. Round 1: Valentina Shevchenko lands big early with a nice counter. The two women clash and Shevchenko drags the fight to the floor. The champ is sitting in the guard of Jennifer Maia who is a dangerous […]

Valentina Shevchenko

In the UFC 255 co-main event Valentina Shevchenko puts he flyweight title on the line against Jennifer Maia.

Round 1: Valentina Shevchenko lands big early with a nice counter. The two women clash and Shevchenko drags the fight to the floor. The champ is sitting in the guard of Jennifer Maia who is a dangerous BJJ player. It’s become something of a stalemate right now, not much is happening and both fighters are stifling the action. Shevchenko postures up and drops a big elbow. A brief pause before she again postures up for another hard elbow. ‘Bullet’ has her head on the chest of Maia and is hammering away with shots to the body and head. Another lull in the action. Maia appears to be uninterested in chasing submissions and content to ride out this round on bottom, which she does.

Round 2: Shevchenko opens up with a spinning back kick to the body. ‘Bullet’ follows it up with a takedown but Maia pops straight back up to her feet. The Brazilian now has control of her opponent against the fence. Maia has a body lock and is letting knee’s fly. Shevchenko temporarily escapes the position and lands a knee of her own before being pushed back to the fence. Both fighters are exchanging insignificant pop shots before Shevchenko botches a takedown attempt and ends up on bottom. Maia has Shevchenko flattened out against the cage. Maia is landing the odd shot but is content to maintain top position. Shevchenko throws up a triangle attempt but it’s shrugged off. Maia rides out round two in top position.

Round 3: Shevchenko looks light on her feet at the start of round three, landing consecutive left hands on Maia. The challenger throws a wild punch which helps her close distance and push the champ up against the fence. ‘Bullet’ escapes but eats a few shots on the exit. The champ goes upstairs with a head kick which is just about blocked. She follows it up with a stiff shot. Shevchenko lands another shot and secures a big takedown off the back of it. ‘Bullet’ is in half guard. After some subtle ground exchanges Maia uses her butterfly guard to force the fight back to the feet. Shes sticks to Shevchenko like glue and once again pushes the fight to the fence. ‘Bullet’ manages to secure another throw and rides out round three on top.

Round 4: Shevchenko lands big at the start of round four. Maia is trying to aggressive close distance but Valentina is staying light on her feet. The champ lands a hard counter left straight down the pipe. Both ladies swing and connect but Shevchenko lands the stronger shot. Maia quickly answers back with a nice punch of her own. Shevchenko initiates the wrestling and secures yet another takedown. Not of lot of action on the mat. Shevchenko has her opponent pressed up against the fence in the half guard position. Referee Herb Dean has given several verbal warnings, this fight may be stood up. Shevchenko starts to get busy which forces Maia to give up the back. She’s got the hooks in but quickly switches back – she’s in the half guard position once again. Thirty seconds left on the clock and the referee again encourages Shevchenko to do more work from the top position. Despite his various warnings ‘Bullet’ is allowed to ride out round four on top.

Round 5: Shevchenko lands successive jabs at the start of round five. The champ spins but misses, which allows Maia to close distance and clinch up against the fence. Shevchenko manages to escape the position and lands a big shot on the break. She’s really trying to go for it in the final round. ‘Bullet’ is blitzing forward with heavy shots but it allows Maia to once again initiate the wrestling exchanges against the fence. Maia fails with a takedown attempt but manages to maintain control against the fence. Shevchenko eventually seperates and goes back to throwing bombs. Maia is busted up now – it looks like her nose is broken. Shevchenko tries another high kick. Maia clinches but is shrugged off and made to pay for her efforts. Shevchenko uses the distance to nail her opponents body with a kick. Maia touches Shevchenko with a kick up the middle. ‘Bullet’ is wading forward but Maia is holding her own in these exchanges. Both ladies are throwing bombs as round five closes out. Maia goes for the takedown and has the champ up against the fence as the horn sounds to end the fight.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Valentina Shevchenko def. Jennifer Maia via unanimous decision