Sherdog’s Top 10: UFC on Fox Main Events

10. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Julianna Pena
UFC on Fox 23
Jan. 28, 2017 | Denver

Pena thought she was safe on the ground. Shevchenko proved otherwise. The 28-year-old Shevchenko cemented her claim as the No. 1 contender for the Ultimate Fighting Championship women’s bantamweight title, as she submitted “The Ultimate Fighter” 18 winner with a second-round armbar at the Pepsi Center. Pena conceded defeat 4:29 into Round 2. Shevchenko answered aggression with cold calculation. The Kyrgyzstani kickboxer surprised Pena with a pair of takedowns from the clinch in the first round, peppering her with ground-and-pound before evading an attempted armbar. “The Venezuelan Vixen” turned the tables in the second, where she executed a takedown of her own and set up shop in Shevchenko’s full guard. Pena was content to strike from there, even as her opponent moved her legs and hips into position for the armbar. Shevchenko maintained her grip on the maneuver through a desperate scramble and forced the tapout, likely securing a rematch with reigning UFC women’s bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes.

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