Valentina Shevchenko defeated Taila Santos via split decision on June 12 to retain her women's flyweight title. The win marked her seventh title defense.
What happened?
The fight was close, with Santos controlling Shevchenko on the ground and attempting submissions in the first three rounds.
Key moments
Shevchenko landed more shots than Santos during stand-up exchanges, making some of the early rounds very close.
A clash of heads led to significant swelling on Santos' eye, which visibly bothered her and affected her performance.
Aftermath
Shevchenko got more aggressive and landed sharp combinations on Santos down the stretch, taking her down late in the fifth and riding out the victory.
Santos suffered a broken orbital bone and will undergo surgery upon her return to Brazil, according to Ariel Helwani.
What's next?
With the victory, Shevchenko has now successfully defended the 125-pound belt seven times, passing Ronda Rousey for the most title defenses in a single women's division in UFC history.
Shevchenko has multiple options for her next move, including returning to bantamweight to challenge Julianna Pena or Amanda Nunes for a second belt.
She also mentioned facing Miesha Tate in an eighth defense, depending on whether Tate defeats Lauren Murphy in her 125-pound debut at UFC 276 on July 2.
Valentina Shevchenko is now riding a nine-fight winning streak overall and remains undefeated at flyweight.
She has not lost since Amanda Nunes won a split decision in their 2017 rematch for the women's bantamweight title.
The win solidifies Shevchenko's position as the No. 1-ranked women's pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
The fight marked the first time a judge scored a fight against Shevchenko during her title reign, which began in December 2018.
Only Demetrious Johnson, Jon Jones, Anderson Silva, and Georges St-Pierre have more than seven UFC title defenses.
Valentina Shevchenko's victory over Taila Santos was a testament to her skill and determination as a fighter.
Shevchenko's next move will be closely watched by fans and pundits alike, as she continues to dominate the women's flyweight division.
The UFC 275 co-main event was held on June 12 in Singapore, with Shevchenko winning via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 49-46).
Santos was nearly a 6-to-1 underdog for her first UFC title opportunity, but she put up a strong fight against the champion.
Valentina Shevchenko's win over Taila Santos was a significant moment in her career, as she continues to break records and push the boundaries of women's MMA.
The fight was a closely contested one, with both fighters giving it their all in the Octagon.
In the end, Shevchenko's skill and experience won out, as she took home the victory and retained her title.
Valentina Shevchenko is a force to be reckoned with in the UFC, and her win over Taila Santos is just the latest example of her dominance in the women's flyweight division.