Valentina Shevchenko racked up one other title protection on Saturday after taking out Manon Fiorot within the UFC 315 co-main occasion.
Whereas she needed to battle by a few shut rounds, Shevchenko did way more harm after breaking Fiorot’s nostril with a devastating punch within the opening spherical after which scoring a knockdown within the fourth that helped preserve her forward on the scorecards. It was a valiant effort from Fiorot however Shevchenko was simply an excessive amount of for her over 5 rounds because the flyweight champion secured the win with all three judges giving her the nod with 48-47 scorecards.
“I used to be anticipating a really arduous combat,” Shevchenko stated after the win. “Manon, she’s a tough opponent, striker. The whole lot we did to prepare for the combat, I used to be capable of do. [I’ll] preserve going. It’s like numbers are nothing. It’s about how you’re feeling mentally and bodily.”
An aggressive begin from Fiorot led to a nasty counter punch from Shevchenko that undoubtedly bought her consideration. Shevchenko was showcasing some very quick strikes and that pressured Fiorot to regulate her assaults after consuming a number of arduous proper palms.
One other proper hand related and Fiorot’s nostril exploded as blood started pouring down her face earlier than she gave up a takedown to the flyweight champion. Whereas Shevchenko didn’t mount anymore harm on the bottom, Fiorot clearly wanted a reset after a tough begin to the combat.
Regardless of getting cleaned up between rounds, Fiorot was nonetheless always touching her nostril to point out how a lot that was bothering her. Fiorot did handle to close down a takedown try from Shevchenko earlier than shoving her off to get again to putting within the middle of the cage.
Fiorot then countered with a takedown of her personal as she pressed Shevchenko in opposition to the cage whereas sustaining her management on the bottom. Simply earlier than the horn sounded, Fiorot threw an unlawful knee however Shevchenko was capable of get her arms as much as defend.
Afterwards, referee Marc Goddard issued a robust warning to Fiorot for the unlawful blow.
As a result of changes that Fiorot was making, Shevchenko appeared to determine a lead jab from the surface whereas ensuring to look at for the extent adjustments for a possible takedown. When Fiorot was capable of shut the gap, she began in search of knees to the physique slightly than turning to her wrestling to maintain Shevchenko guessing.
A spinning backfist from Shevchenko appeared to attach however Fiorot nonetheless bought again inside to aim one other takedown earlier than time ran out on her.
With the combat shifting into the championship rounds, Fiorot was protecting issues shut and nonetheless chipping away, which pressured Shevchenko to change her technique to get extra energetic. That led to a nicely timed spinning again kick that went on to Fiorot’s physique because the French flyweight continued shifting ahead, which was her technique for almost all of the combat.
Simply earlier than the fourth spherical got here to an in depth, Shevchenko clipped Fiorot with one other nasty counter proper hand as she despatched the challenger crashing to the canvas. Shevchenko adopted up with a couple of extra punches on the bottom because the momentum shifted in her favor.
The counter strikes continued to pay dividends for Shevchenko earlier than uncorking one other spinning again fist that blasted Fiorot as she moved ahead. Regardless of the combat seemingly slipping away, Fiorot stored going again to the clinch however she was unable to safe the takedown and Shevchenko was making her pay any time she had area to work.
That was actually the distinction with Shevchenko’s offensive output simply by no means permitting Fiorot to search out any type of rhythm and the championship as soon as in opposition to stayed with the best flyweight in UFC historical past.
At 37, Shevchenko may appear to be she’s nearing the top of her profession however she retains taking out contenders and it doesn’t seem there’s any slowing down for her as she continues including increasingly more accolades to her Corridor of Fame resume.
