10 Things You Need To Know Ahead Of UFC 213
2. Valentina Shevchenko Is Going To Be A Champion
As a very undersized bantamweight, Shevchenko hasn't been intimidated by her bigger foes, and has put them away in a variety of different ways. With her natural weight class being brought in during the next season of The Ultimate Fighter, she definitely has options.
A Muay Thai specialist with a 58-2-1 record in the ring, Shevchenko showed off her decorated striking game in taking a comfortable decision victory over Holly Holm last year. When she faced Julianna Pena in Denver back in January, it was advertised as the classic striker vs. grappler contest. Shevchenko upset the apple cart, rolling over Pena and finishing her with a very technical belly down armbar to set up her title shot.
If Shevchenko doesn't win this fight, expect her to transition down to the new flyweight division when it opens after season 26 of The Ultimate Fighter. It seems almost inevitable she'd be champion there at her natural weight class. Of course, if she wins on Saturday, that doesn't necessarily eliminate her from flyweight contention either. She may want to try and become the first woman to win two belts in UFC.