Valentina Shevchenko thwarted one more contender coming for her title as she utterly shut down and dominated Zhang Weili throughout 5 rounds within the UFC 322 co-main occasion.
Displaying off her dimension and energy, Shevchenko bullied Zhang in virtually each change on the toes and on the bottom as the previous strawweight champion simply had no reply whereas producing virtually zero offense through the 25 minute battle. Shevchenko gained on the toes and on the bottom to defend her flyweight title with all three judges handing her the shutout with 50-45 scores throughout the board.
“I used to be getting ready for this combat as the toughest problem in my life,” Shevchenko mentioned after her newest title protection. “That is what I name the artwork of martial arts. When they’re right here in entrance of me, they can not do something.
From the beginning, Shevchenko established a protracted, hanging assault with a tough physique kick after which blistering fast punches in succession. With Zhang making an attempt to shut the gap, Shevchenko blasted her with an enormous knee to the intestine that dropped the previous strawweight champion the canvas as they moved right into a grappling change.
Again on the toes, Shevchenko uncorked a spinning again fist that cracked Zhang earlier than securing a takedown proper into facet management. Shevchenko was methodical in her floor assault, peppering away at Zhang and seeking to advance her place till the primary spherical ended.
Shevchenko secured one other takedown after she grabbed onto Zhang from the clinch and simply introduced her crashing to the canvas once more. She maintained facet management with Shevchenko probably establishing the crucifix place the place she’s completed previous opponents.
With Zhang making an attempt desperately to scramble, Shevchenko maintained a dominant place on high, though she ultimately obtained pulled again into half-guard. That allowed Zhang a second of reprieve however Shevchenko was simply dominant in high management.
Shevchenko additionally began catching Zhang with a slick counter punch each time her opponent tried to dive ahead with a mixture. A nasty left and a violent proper continued to discover a dwelling on Zhang’s chin as Shevchenko was fast and decisive along with her hanging.
One other knee to the physique from Shevchenko backed Zhang off once more and the flyweight champion’s confidence continued to surge. Shevchenko in the end secured one other takedown and she or he was simply suffocating on high with Zhang having no reply from the underside.
Because the combat moved into the championship rounds, Shevchenko was actually abusing Zhang to the physique and doing most injury alongside the best way. Zhang simply had no reply as she was caught making an attempt to guess what Shevchenko was going to do subsequent.
With the combat clearly slipping away from her, Zhang shifted into desperation mode however even that was rapidly countered with Shevchenko shutting her down. Shevchenko snatched one more takedown and simply drained the final little bit of effort out of Zhang as her hopes of turning into a two-division champion light away.
“I wish to congratulate Valentina Shevchenko,” Zhang mentioned following her loss. “I really feel sorry for all of the followers that supported me. I can’t cease making an attempt. I’ll proceed to march ahead. I’m most likely going to take a break and relaxation and simply take into consideration [what’s next]”
All of it probability, Zhang can return to strawweight the place Mackenzie Dern was only recently topped champion in her absence.
As for Shevchenko, she named Natalia Silva and Erin Blanchfield as potential contenders at flyweight and in addition took discover that the reigning bantamweight champion talked about her by identify not too long ago.
“I’ve a few choices within the flyweight division,” Shevchenko mentioned. “I heard Kayla Harrison is looking me out so I’ve a number of choices.”
