LOS ANGELES — Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko are not exactly known for pre-fight trash talk. Both come from traditional martial arts backgrounds — Nunes in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo, Shevchenko in taekwondo and Muay Thai — and are traditionally respectful to opponents before bouts.
That changed, though, last week. The two women, who will fight each other for Nunes’ women’s bantamweight title at UFC 213 on July 8 in Las Vegas, had heated verbal exchanges last Friday at the UFC Summer Kickoff press conference. And when the two met to face off, things got physical.