Shevchenko upsets Holm at UFC Chicago
CHICAGO — Valentina Shevchenko stunned Holly Holm on Saturday night at UFC Chicago, unanimously outpointing the former UFC champion.
Fighting for the first time since losing the belt to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, Holm was on the losing side of scores of 49-46 from the judges.
Her stunning knockout of thenchamp Ronda Rousey in Australia at UFC 193 last November catapulted Holm (10-2) into the spotlight of mixed martial arts, but she followed with back-to-back losses.
Shevchenko (13-2) put herself in the mix to contend for the women’s bantamweight title at 135 pounds that’s held by Amanda Nunes, who she lost to in March at UFC 196.
Holm knocked Shevchenko to the mat with a quick hook early in the first round, but Shevchenko quickly got back to her feet. Shevchenko had a takedown late in the round.
In the third round, after Shevchenko got in a few jabs, she caught Holm’s leg on a kick attempt and took her down. Shevchenko scored another takedown and kept Holm (10-2) on the mat for the rest of the round as she landed punches.
Shevchenko may get another shot at Nunes, who dismantled Tate for the belt at UFC 200.
In the co-main event, Edson Barboza won a unanimous decision over Gilbert Melendez in a lightweight fight.
Barboza (18-4) took control late in the second round. Melendez attempted a kick, but Barboza caught his leg and took him down. Barboza pinned Melendez (22-6) to the mat as he landed a series of punches.