Recent RotoWire Articles Featuring Valentina Shevchenko
Assuming Saturday's main event moves forward as planned, UFC Tampa is headlined by a fight that will determine the future of the strawweight division. Jon Litterine breaks it down and makes his picks.
It may not have been flashy, but Valentina Shevchenko put up a record-setting defensive performance to retain her title Saturday night. Richard Mann breaks down UFC Uruguay by the numbers.
Uruguay plays host to an ESPN+ title fight this weekend, as one of the roster's most dominant champions looks to defend her belt. Jon Litterine makes his picks and breaks down four key fights.
A triple champ, a devastating head kick KO and another near-record-breaking performance all stand out from a UFC 238 card on Saturday that delivered as promised. Richard Mann dives into the event's key stats.
Check out how the RotoWire MMA team sees Saturday's pay-per-view playing out.
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Facing Carmouche for UFC on ESPN+ 14
Shevchenko will defend her title against Liz Carmouche in the main event of UFC on ESPN+ 14 in Montevideo, Uruguay on Aug. 10, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko is coming off a highlight-reel, KO victory over Jessica Eye during her first flyweight title defense, and will waste no time acquiring her next main-event booking. Carmouche has won four of her past five bouts and defeated Shevchenko in 2010 under the banner of C3 Fights, prior to when the UFC had female divisions. Since coming over to the UFC, Shevchenko has a slight edge in striking volume, while Carmouche has superior offensive wrestling numbers. Both have an identical striking defense rate of 61 percent. These are two very different fighters than a decade ago, and the 31-year-old Shevchenko should enter as a hefty betting favorite this time around.
Shevchenko is coming off a highlight-reel, KO victory over Jessica Eye during her first flyweight title defense, and will waste no time acquiring her next main-event booking. Carmouche has won four of her past five bouts and defeated Shevchenko in 2010 under the banner of C3 Fights, prior to when the UFC had female divisions. Since coming over to the UFC, Shevchenko has a slight edge in striking volume, while Carmouche has superior offensive wrestling numbers. Both have an identical striking defense rate of 61 percent. These are two very different fighters than a decade ago, and the 31-year-old Shevchenko should enter as a hefty betting favorite this time around.
Creates career defining highlight
Shevchenko defeated Jessica Eye via KO (Head Kick) at 0:26 of Round 2 at UFC 238 on Saturday in Chicago.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko was a huge favorite coming to this fight, and she certainly looked the part. After dominating on the ground in the first round, she unleashed a vicious head kick. Eye was out on contact, and the fight was over. This was a scary knockout, but Shevchenko looked like the dominant champion that she is. She appears to be head and shoulders above the rest of the division, but the promotion will continue to line up challengers. She'll also take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for her efforts.
Shevchenko was a huge favorite coming to this fight, and she certainly looked the part. After dominating on the ground in the first round, she unleashed a vicious head kick. Eye was out on contact, and the fight was over. This was a scary knockout, but Shevchenko looked like the dominant champion that she is. She appears to be head and shoulders above the rest of the division, but the promotion will continue to line up challengers. She'll also take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for her efforts.
Re-ups with UFC
Shevchenko signed a multi-fight deal with the UFC on Friday, Brett Okamoto of ESPN reports.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko is already booked to defend her UFC Flyweight Title against Jessica Eye at UFC 238 on June 8, but win or lose, this won't be the end of her run with the UFC after signing a new deal with the promotion. Shevchenko is 5-2 since joining the UFC back in late 2015.
Shevchenko is already booked to defend her UFC Flyweight Title against Jessica Eye at UFC 238 on June 8, but win or lose, this won't be the end of her run with the UFC after signing a new deal with the promotion. Shevchenko is 5-2 since joining the UFC back in late 2015.
Set to defend title against Jessica Eye
Shevchenko will defend her UFC Flyweight Title against Jessica Eye at UFC 238 in Chicago on June 8.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenchko claimed the title when she defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 231 in December and she'll enter the octagon with that title for the first time in June against Eye. The dominance in that performance makes her the favorite against Eye, who was most recently seen in a win via split decision (29-29, 28-29, 29-28) over Katlyn Chookagian at the same UFC 231 where Shevchenko claimed her title.
Shevchenchko claimed the title when she defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 231 in December and she'll enter the octagon with that title for the first time in June against Eye. The dominance in that performance makes her the favorite against Eye, who was most recently seen in a win via split decision (29-29, 28-29, 29-28) over Katlyn Chookagian at the same UFC 231 where Shevchenko claimed her title.
New UFC Women's Flyweight Champion
Shevchenko won the vacant UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Joanna Jedrzejczyk via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46) at UFC 231 in Toronto.
ANALYSIS
Shevchenko is ridiculous. Facing one of the best female mixed martial artists of all time, Valentina rolled over her like it was nothing. She was credited with five takedowns landed on 16 attempts. It's not as if Valentina was looking to get this fight to the mat, but she was so much bigger and stronger than Joanna that dragging her to the mat made the most sense. She dominated in every position and made Joanna look like a novice. If you want to nitpick, you could say that Shevchenko's cardio weakened in Rounds 4 and 5. Still, it was a heck of an effort. It's going to take a monumental effort for another woman to take this belt from Valentina.
Shevchenko is ridiculous. Facing one of the best female mixed martial artists of all time, Valentina rolled over her like it was nothing. She was credited with five takedowns landed on 16 attempts. It's not as if Valentina was looking to get this fight to the mat, but she was so much bigger and stronger than Joanna that dragging her to the mat made the most sense. She dominated in every position and made Joanna look like a novice. If you want to nitpick, you could say that Shevchenko's cardio weakened in Rounds 4 and 5. Still, it was a heck of an effort. It's going to take a monumental effort for another woman to take this belt from Valentina.