Valentina Shevchenko removed the only remaining obstacle between her and a crack at the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight title.
The 28-year-old Kyrgyzstani kickboxer submitted Julianna Pena with a second-round armbar in the UFC on Fox 23 main event on Saturday at the Pepsi Center in Denver. Pena tapped 4:29 into Round 2, as she saw her four-fight winning streak grind to a halt and lost for the first time in nearly four years. If “The Ultimate Fighter 18” winner underestimated Shevchenko’s ground skills, it was a grave mistake.
Pena did all she could to stay in her comfort zone, as she pursued a relentless clinch and attacked with close-quarters knee strikes to the legs and body.