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#2. Antonina Shevchenko (7-0) vs. Roxanne Modafferi (22-15) (Women's Flyweight)
The hype surrounding UFC Women's Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko's elder sister's rise as a top prospect was one of the biggest stories heading into the fight. However, she was up against the veteran Roxanne Modafferi, who was an underdog but by no means a pushover. An upset is what we got...
Round 1: Lots of movement from Modafferi in the early going. She used a lot of feints and jabs in order to get into striking range but Antonina kept her distance and connected with a few solid strikes and kicks.
Modafferi kept pressing forward and landed a few rights in the process. Shevchenko connected with a kick but an unfazed Modafferi pushed forward and clinched near the cage. Modafferi got in the underhook and a partial takedown. Shevchenko powered her way to her feet but Modaferri shifted to the double leg and rolled Shevchenko down to the mat.
Modaferri transitioned into the mount position and got in a few strikes from the top as the round came to a close. A big confidence booster for Modaferri.
Draw
Round 2: Shevchenko's corner instructed her to not wrestle with Modafferi and to keep her distance. Modafferi's corner told her to get funky. That sounded fun.
Shevchenko with a wild side kick attempted right from the onset. She landed another kick to the body. Shevchenko kept connecting with a few rights and hooks as Modafferi kept coming in.
Shevchenko got in two solid left hooks but Modafferi cut the distance and clinched with Shevchenko near the fence. Modafferi attempted to yank Shevchenko down. She eventually powered her way down to the mat and got into side control. Modafferi tried to pass the guard but Shevchenko created some space.
Shevchenko chose not to pop back up and Modafferi went back into side control.
Modafferi was up on the scorecards with 43 total strikes to Shevchenko's 41. The Happy Warrior added to her overall count and ended the round on top.
10-9 Modaferri
Round 3: Shevchenko came in hot and connected with some wild combinations. She mixed it up with well-placed straight strikes, jabs, lead lefts and the occasional kicks.
Modafferi too let her hands go as the fans loved the brawl.
Modafferi got Shevchenko to the mat again and rolled through to get her back. Shevchenko turned over and got into Modafferi's guard. Shevchenko was on top and looked to cause some damage but Modafferi rolled over again to get on top of Shevchenko. That silenced the crowd.
Both women got back to their feet but Modafferi didn't let go. Modafferi pushed Shevchenko to the other side of the Octagon despite eating a few knees in the process.
Shevchenko kept connecting with some nasty knees in the clinch but Modafferi stayed focussed on pulling Shevchenko to the ground.
Modafferi landed her fifth takedown to end the fight in her advantage.
10-9 Modaferri
Result: Roxanne Modafferi def. Antonina Shevchenko via Split Decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Don't know what that one judge saw there as that was a clear unanimous decision win for Modafferi.
Modafferi controlled the fight. She cut the distance, took advantage of Shevchenko's apparent takedown and grappling weaknesses and shut down one of the biggest prospects of the Women's flyweight division. A big feather in the Happy Warrior's cap as the Shevchenko hype train just got derailed.
