Two of the biggest prospects in the UFC’s female 135-pound division will get the chance to take the next step in their mixed martial arts (MMA) careers, as former Ultimate Fighter winner Julianna Pena will collide with dominating striker Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of UFC on FOX 23 on January 28th.
With a massive women’s title bout going down between current champ Amanda Nunes and former champ Ronda Rousey later this month, this bout between Pena and Shevchenko could prove to see who the next challenger for the women’s bantamweight title truly is.
Also read: UFC News: Holly Holm says that she agreed to fight Cyborg
Pena is the first ever woman to win The Ultimate Fighter as she won the show’s 18th season, and is officially undefeated in the UFC with a four-fight win streak. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’s’ most recent Octagon appearance saw her take home quite an impressive unanimous decision victory over former title challenger Cat Zingano at UFC 200.
Following the contest, Pena campaigned heavily to get the next shot at the bantamweight throne, and now she’ll most likely get her opportunity with a potential win over Shevchenko.
Here’s a video of Pena threatening to quit fighting if she didn’t get her title shot:
Shevchenko is a former Muay Thai practitioner who has raised a lot of eyebrows with her dynamic striking attack, with her only loss in the promotion coming to current division champion Amanda Nunes.
Shevchenko comes into this match off of a win over former champ Holly Holm, another dynamic striker in her own right, and took home a unanimous decision win.
Both women have a tonne of potential coming in behind them, as they have both proven to be very capable of hanging in with the most elite that the UFC has to offer. It is safe to say that the winner of this bout is next in line for a crack at UFC gold.
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