Shevchenko upsets Holly Holm via decision at UFC on FOX 20

MANILA, Philippines – Holly Holm’s road back to redemption was spoiled by Valentina Shevchenko as the Peruvian striker outworked the former women’s bantamweight titleholder in the main event of UFC on FOX 20 on Saturday, July 23 (Sunday Manila time) at the United Center in Chicago, Illinois.

Holm, a highly-decorated professional boxer, suffered her second straight defeat as she dropped a unanimous decision to Shevchenko, who received the scores of 3 49-46 marks across the panel.

Shevchenko picked Holm apart over the course of 25 minutes with beautiful counter right hooks and crisp jabs.

The 28-year-old Peruvian standout also targeted Holm’s lead leg with inside kicks, while she incorporated preemptive takedown attempts when her opponent went for the attack.

With the lopsided triumph over Holm, Shevchenko improves her prizefighting record to 13-2 and has won 6 of her last 7 outings, yielding only to Amanda Nunes, who now holds the UFC women’s bantamweight belt.

After having her hand raised in victory, Shevchenko demanded another bout with the only female fighter to beat her inside the Octagon.

“Amanda, she’s a good fighter. She has good stand-up and a good ground game, and of course, I want a rematch for the title,” she said in the post-fight interview,

On the other hand, Holm downgrades to a win-loss slate of 10-2.

Holm had a brief glimmer of hope in the first round, where she knocked down Shevchenko with a short right uppercut.

However, Holm went downhill from that sequence as she appeared to be overwhelmed in the face of Shevchenko’s consistent counterstrikes.

“She’s newer in the UFC, but I knew I had my hands full with this fight. When they offered it to me, I didn’t want to act like I didn’t want to take it. I knew it was a really big challenge. What can you do? I know it was a competitive fight, and I take nothing away from her,” Holm stated.

“I was taught all the right things. My coaches teach me everything. My performance was not right tonight,” Holm added. – Rappler.com