Antonina Shevchenko
Pantera
Kyrgyzstan
Snaps brief losing streak
Shevchenko defeated Cortney Casey via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) at UFC on ESPN 39 on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
It's difficult to get too worked up about a decision in a fight this close. Both women felt they deserved the win, although Round 3 in favor of Casey appeared to be the only definitive frame of the fight. Shevchenko finished with just an 81-80 edge in total strikes landed, although she was credited with a 55-33 edge in those deemed "significant." Antonina did allow two takedowns in the final round which resulted in Casey picking up 2:54 worth of control time. The victory snaps a two-fight losing streak for Shevchenko, who is 4-4 in her first eight UFC bouts. Antonina turns 38 years of age in November, and her long-term ceiling is extremely low despite the win here.
It's difficult to get too worked up about a decision in a fight this close. Both women felt they deserved the win, although Round 3 in favor of Casey appeared to be the only definitive frame of the fight. Shevchenko finished with just an 81-80 edge in total strikes landed, although she was credited with a 55-33 edge in those deemed "significant." Antonina did allow two takedowns in the final round which resulted in Casey picking up 2:54 worth of control time. The victory snaps a two-fight losing streak for Shevchenko, who is 4-4 in her first eight UFC bouts. Antonina turns 38 years of age in November, and her long-term ceiling is extremely low despite the win here.
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Suffers knee injury
Shevchenko will no longer face Cortney Casey on April 30 after suffering a knee injury, Damon Martin of MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
The UFC has elected to push this fight back to July 9 and give Shevchenko some time to get healthy. Shevchenko will be hoping to stop a two-fight losing streak.
The UFC has elected to push this fight back to July 9 and give Shevchenko some time to get healthy. Shevchenko will be hoping to stop a two-fight losing streak.
Expected to fight Casey
The UFC is targeting a bout between Shevchenko and Cortney Casey at an event on April 30, MMAFighting.com reports.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko started her UFC career with a 3-2 record and his since lost her last two. So, she will look to snap a losing streak when she steps in the octagon with Casey. The latter just snapped her own two-fight skid via a unanimous decision over Liana Jojua at UFC Vegas 42 in November.
Shevchenko started her UFC career with a 3-2 record and his since lost her last two. So, she will look to snap a losing streak when she steps in the octagon with Casey. The latter just snapped her own two-fight skid via a unanimous decision over Liana Jojua at UFC Vegas 42 in November.
Struggles continue in Vegas
Shevchenko lost to Casey O'Neill via TKO (punches) at 4:47 of Round 2 at UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
O'Neill is a legitimate top prospect and true threat to wear potential UFC gold one day, but Shevchenko has shown more bad than good since arriving on the scene in November 2018, and this was one of her worst performances to date. Like her sister, Antonina has proven to be a strong striker, but her wrestling game, particularly her takedown defense, has been her downfall. O'Neill got her to the mat on three of eight attempts, good for nearly six minutes worth of control time. Shevchenko has been poor in terms of making in-fight adjustments and hasn't displayed the ability to stop her opposition. Antonina may have a longer leash than most because of Valentina, but the elder Shevchenko will be 37 years of age in late November and has lost three of her past four fights.
O'Neill is a legitimate top prospect and true threat to wear potential UFC gold one day, but Shevchenko has shown more bad than good since arriving on the scene in November 2018, and this was one of her worst performances to date. Like her sister, Antonina has proven to be a strong striker, but her wrestling game, particularly her takedown defense, has been her downfall. O'Neill got her to the mat on three of eight attempts, good for nearly six minutes worth of control time. Shevchenko has been poor in terms of making in-fight adjustments and hasn't displayed the ability to stop her opposition. Antonina may have a longer leash than most because of Valentina, but the elder Shevchenko will be 37 years of age in late November and has lost three of her past four fights.
Taking on undefeated O'Neill
Shevchenko is scheduled to fight Casey O'Neill at UFC Vegas 38 on Oct. 2, Marcel Dorff of MMADNA reports.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko has lost two of her last three fights, so she's not likely to be favored against an undefeated opponent in O'Neill. Shevchenko has a two-inch height advantage but a disadvantage of one inch in reach.
Shevchenko has lost two of her last three fights, so she's not likely to be favored against an undefeated opponent in O'Neill. Shevchenko has a two-inch height advantage but a disadvantage of one inch in reach.
Inconsistent ways continue
Shevchenko lost to Andrea Lee via submission (triangle armbar) at 4:52 of Round 2 at UFC 262 on Saturday in Houston.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko was competitive for five minutes before Lee ran her out of the Toyota Center. Antonina found herself in a triangle moments into Round 2 and was never able to recover. She actually did a decent job of hanging on while being dominated on the ground, but this one was over as soon as Lee fully committed to the armbar late in the frame. Shevchenko has now alternated wins and losses since arriving on the scene back in November 2018, and we should expect more of that moving forward. Antonina is perfectly competent on the feet, but she's 36 years old and doesn't fight with anywhere near the physicality of her all-world younger sister, Valentina. It's not a great combination.
Shevchenko was competitive for five minutes before Lee ran her out of the Toyota Center. Antonina found herself in a triangle moments into Round 2 and was never able to recover. She actually did a decent job of hanging on while being dominated on the ground, but this one was over as soon as Lee fully committed to the armbar late in the frame. Shevchenko has now alternated wins and losses since arriving on the scene back in November 2018, and we should expect more of that moving forward. Antonina is perfectly competent on the feet, but she's 36 years old and doesn't fight with anywhere near the physicality of her all-world younger sister, Valentina. It's not a great combination.