Roxanne Modafferi claimed a nice victory over Antonina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night 149 this evening, using her superior grappling to grind out a split decision victory.
Round One:
Leg kick for Modafferi and a counter punch from Shevchenko. Double jab from Modafferi. Front kick to the face just misses from Shevchenko.
two counter punches from Shevchenko as Modafferi moves forward. Hard left hand now. Modafferi tries for the straight left, but she’s reaching and Shevchenko’s almost sharp with the counters.
Body kick for Shevchenko now. Another solid left hand for her. Modafferi marching forward landing punches. She lands another good punch.
Head kick lands for Shevchenko, but Modafferi takes it. Now Modafferi changes things up, opting to clinch up with Shevchenko and press her against the cage.
Modafferi manages to get Shevchenko down. Shevchenko looking to get straight back to her feet against the cage. She eventually does, but Modafferi brings her straight back down.
Shevchenko soon standing again, but Modafferi is doggedly determined now to keep this fight on the mat and is able to put her on her back away from the cage.
Modafferi in mount now and landing a few short elbows and punches to end the round.
Round Two:
Side kick to the head from Shevchenko, but not landing hard. Right hand gets through Modafferi’s guard. Clean left hand for Shevchenko and then another.
Modafferi trying to press forward but eats a spinning attack. She keeps marching forward anyway, but Shevchenko is picking her apart from range and she’s bleeding now as these counter strikes start to take their toll.
Howwever, there’s no option for Modafferi other than to keep getting into range in order to try and grapple with her opponent, and she’s able to get the clinch against the cage.
Shevchenko trying to stay upright, but against Modafferi is able to get her to the mat again and starts going to work in half-guard.
Little bit of ground and pound from Modafferi and then stands over Shevchenko before going back into her guard. Elbow strikes from Modafferi on top.
Shevchenko really struggling to deal with Modaferri’s top game so far, but she does stop her from her attempt to get into full mount.
Round Three:
Left hand for Shevchenko but then throws a kick to the body that’s partially caught. She gets away though. Shevchenko notably more aggressive her on the feet and tagging Modafferi with straight punches. She goes for another body kick though and Modafferi is able to grab that and use it to work a takedown.
Shevchenko gets to her knees, but Modafferi remains on top. However, then Shevchenko suprises Modafferi by rolling and getting on top.
Shevchenko hoping to turn the tables here as she works ground and pound, but then Modafferi times a transition of her own and gets back on top.
Better still, Modafferi is now into full mount and landing punches. This looks good for her, but unexpectedly Shevchenko manages to transition on top yet again.
Modafferi stands against the cage and as the move from one side of the Octagon to the other Shevchenko lands knees upstairs.
Modafferi working for a takedown against the cage now. Shevchenko lands another good knee. Only 30 seconds remaining. Another hard knee to the body from Shevchenko, but then Modafferi does land the takedown and works from there til the final bell.
Decision:
Shevchenko clearly had the striking advantage here, but Modafferi wisely opted to work her ground game to counter that and as a result emerges with a split decision victory (29-28 x2, 28-29).
