Valentina Shevchenko tight-lipped on just how she'll beat Julianna Pena at UFC on FOX 23

Valentina Shevchenko has right-to-the-point answers for just about everything you want to know before her UFC on FOX 23 headliner Saturday.

Just don’t ask her if she’ll be better than Julianna Pena on the ground. You’ll get a response, but as for the answer, you’ll have to wait for the main event.

Shevchenko (13-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) meets Pena (8-2 MMA, 4-0 UFC) in UFC on FOX 23’s top-billed fight, which takes place at Denver’s Pepsi Center. The main card airs on FOX following prelims on FS1 and UFC Fight Pass.

“I don’t want to say anything (specific about strategy), but I’ll show (detractors) everything,” Shevchenko told MMAjunkie Radio. “I don’t want to talk too much (before the fight). I’ll show you everything I have.”

Will she be ready to fight in Denver’s mile-high altitude – a game-time scenario that has proved troublesome for so many before her?

Piece of cake, given the altitudes in her home country of Kyrgyzstan.

“All my childhood, I was training at altitude,” she said. “I don’t feel any problems training at altitude because I was training a lot of times in very high mountains. In Denver, I feel like I’m at home.”

And how about the fact her past four fights have gone to decision – including a loss to Amanda Nunes that got Nunes a shot at the women’s bantamweight title she now holds?

Will that play a factor? Shouldn’t she be wanting and needing to finish some opponents in the UFC to make a statement that she can take on the elite, like Nunes once again?

“You can’t finish all your opponents – sometimes you go to a decision,” Shevchenko said. “You just have to train hard every time and for every fight, go for 150 percent of your physical and mental condition. It doesn’t matter (if you finish) – it only matters if you’re in your best form.”

And if she’s in her best form, should she get a shot at the title, which might mean a rematch with Nunes? She’s already got wins in the UFC over former title challenger Sarah Kaufman and former champion Holly Holm, the latter coming this past July in the UFC on FOX 20 main event in Chicago.

In fact, she mostly dominated Holm en route to a trio of 49-46 scores in the five-rounder. Could the same be in store for Pena, who hasn’t lost in nearly four years?

“I’m a person who’s really focused on this fight because I know I have to win this fight,” she said. “My focus and all my thoughts are on this Saturday. Of course, it’s more likely the winner will fight for the title. But that will come after the fight. All my thoughts, all my energy, I direct toward Saturday.”

And that could spell trouble for Pena – and another shot at Nunes for Shevchenko … even if she won’t reveal just how she plans to get things done.

For more on UFC on FOX 23, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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