UFC 275 co-main event
The fight will take place on June 12 in Singapore at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will become a co-main event of the UFC 275 PPV tournament. The estimated start of the fight is 06:30 am Kyiv time. The fight will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports.
UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (22-3) will face #4 ranked Tayla Santos (19-1).
Shevchenko has already defended her title six times, which she has held for more than three years. So far, she made her last belt defense in September at UFC 266, where she knocked out Lauren Murphy in the 4th round. Five months prior at UFC 261, Bullet defended the title with a second-round elbow finish to Jessica Andrade.
Santos is on a four win streak. She passed by decision in succession by Molly McCann, Gillian Robertson and Roxanne Modafferi. And in November 2021, for the first time in the UFC, Santos managed to finish her opponent, in the first round forcing Joanne Wood to surrender by choke.
Prediction for the fight
Shevchenko is the absolute favorite. She is a recognized strike master, having been a multiple world champion in Muay Thai and kickboxing in the past. Santos clearly knows how to fight in the stand, but her skills are not enough to somehow compete with the champion.
On the ground, Santos could theoretically have at least some small effect due to his size and physical strength. But we believe that on the ground Shevchenko will not be inferior to her opponent and will periodically carry out takedowns, combining them with filigree footwork. We predict that in the later rounds Shevchenko will turn on to the fullest and be able to stop Santos with punches or even a submission.
Shevchenko’s victory by knockout in the 4th round
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