Holly Holm had big plans for a comeback win. Valentina Shevchenko had other plans.
Holly Holm was looking to get herself back in the title picture, four months after losing the UFC Bantamweight championship to Miesha Tate. With new champion Amanda Nunes looking on, Holm hoped to capitalize on a cracked open 135-pound division. That didn't happen, because Valentina Shevchenko stood in her way.
Holm, the #2-ranked women's bantamweight fighter, started out strong, winning the first round. By round two, Shevchenko had timed Holm and started to connect with a jab and counter with a right. Holm made no adjustment throughout the fight, outside of a desperate last twenty seconds.
Shevchenko was hyped as having defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times in muay thai, and having taken current bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes to a decision. Holm very much looked like a fighter who spent the duration of her career training for one opponent in Ronda Rousey, and has paid for it.
The women's Bantamweight division is a total wreck, with Ronda Rousey, Holly Holm, Miesha Tate, Valentina Shevchenko, Amanda Nunes, Cat Zingano in a virtual carousel, with Julianna Pena waiting in the wings. You can see our full UFC on Fox 20 coverage at this link.
By Sean Ross Sapp
