ORLANDO, Fla. – Stepping in on a little more than one week’s notice, Valentina Shevchenko announced her intentions in the UFC with a convincing decision win over Sarah Kaufman.
The women’s bantamweight bout was part of today’s UFC on FOX 17 preliminary card at Amway Center in Orlando, Fla. It aired on FOX Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass and ahead of the FOX-televised main card.
As the bout began, Shevchenko came out looking to strike, but they quickly worked in to the clinch, where Shevchenko eventually scored a takedown. Kaufman held tight underneath, and Shevchenko moved to the feet, scored a kick to the body and then another takedown with a head-and-arm throw. Kaufman countered by threatening the leg, but Shevchenko happily returned to the feet and again dominated in the clinch.
Kaufman tried to press things to the cage in the second, but Shevchenko circled off and returned to her dirty boxing. When Kaufman could stand at range, she struggled to land any strikes of consequence, so she moved back inside and again found herself tossed to the floor. In short, Kaufman struggled to find any effective range.
The third started out in similar fashion, though Kaufman was finally able to score a takedown two minutes into the frame, where she established top position. She worked hard to isolate the farm for the majority of the frame, but Shevchenko wouldn’t give up the limb. Kaufman worked to mount in the final round, but it was too little, too late, and Shevchenko was awarded a split-decision win, – 28-29, 29-28 and 29-28 – that certainly seemed more clearcut than that score would indicate.
Shevchenko (12-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) picks up a big win in her UFC debut, while Kaufman (17-4 MMA, 1-2 UFC) has now dropped back-to-back fighters for the first time in her professional career.
Up-to-the-minute UFC on FOX 17 results include:
For more on UFC on FOX 17, check out the UFC Events section of the site.
(MMAjunkie’s Matt Erickson contributed to this report on site in Orlando.)