[autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] is still the UFC women’s flyweight champion.
“Bullet” proved on Saturday night that’s she clearly the best fighter at 125 pounds with a dominant showing against Katlyn Chookagian in the co-main event of UFC 247. Shevchenko (19-3 MMA, 8-2 UFC) stopped Chookagian (13-3 MMA, 6-3 UFC) with ground-and-pound at the 1:03 mark of Round 3.
Shevchenko dominated in every scenario of the fight. In all three rounds, Shevchenko picked apart Chookagian on the feet with her precise and dynamic striking. She also managed to score takedowns in all three rounds, controlling Chookagian and even slicing her open with a sharp elbow above her eye.
In Round 3, the 31-year-old champion was able to get the fight to the canvas once again, but this time she locked in a dominant position. Shevchenko found a home in the crucifix. From there, Shevchenko rained down punches on Chookagian. Unable to escape or block, the referee was forced to save Chookagian and wave off the fight.
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This win marks Shevchenko’s third consecutive title defense since winning the vacant belt in December 2018. The Kyrgyzstani is currently unbeaten in her last five outings. The last time Shevchenko tasted defeat was in a bantamweight title fight against current champ-champ Amanda Nunes.
Shevchenko remains one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. She’s yet to be put in danger in a fight at 125 pounds.
The women’s flyweight title bout was the UFC 247 co-main event at Toyota Center in Houston. It aired on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on UFC Fight Pass/ESPN+.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 247 results include:
- Valentina Shevchenko def. Katlyn Chookagian via TKO (punches) – Round 3, 1:03
- Justin Tafa def. Juan Adams via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:59
- Dan Ige def. Mirsad Bektic via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
- Derrick Lewis def. Ilir Latifi via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Lauren Murphy def. Andrea Lee via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Khaos Williams def. Alex Morono via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:27
- Mario Bautista def. Miles Johns via TKO (flying knee, punches) – Round 2, 1:41
- Journey Newson def. Domingo Pilarte via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:38
- Andre Ewell def. Jonathan Martinez via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 30-27)
- Youssef Zalal def. Austin Lingo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)