Erin Blanchfield recently sounded off on Valentina Shevchenko for not modifying her game to suit the contemporary class of opponents. Given the future title contender’s investment in Shevchenko’s next fight, it’s unsurprising to see her closely analyze the UFC Noche headliner.
Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso will face off in a title rematch at Noche UFC in Las Vegas this weekend. The famed T-Mobile Arena is hosting the special Fight Night event to celebrate the Mexican Independence Day.
Shevchenko last faced Grasso at UFC 285 in March. Despite being an underdog, the Mexican fighter shockingly submitted ‘Bullet’ in the fourth round to win the women’s flyweight title. However, since Shevchenko had an unmatched resume, the officials awarded her an immediate rematch.
It’s worth noting that Valentina Shevchenko was ahead on the judges’ scorecards at UFC 285. Shevchenko outpointed Alexa Grasso for three rounds but then threw an ill-timed spinning back-kick, which allowed her opponent to counter with a takedown. Capitalizing on Shevchenko’s mistake, Grasso quickly transitioned into a face-crank and secured the submission.
Erin Blanchfield wasn’t shocked or surprised to see a dominant champion like Valentina Shevchenko getting finished. The 24-year-old, who’s established herself as a fast-rising contender, is beginning to see a pattern in Shevchenko’s strategies and believes the women’s flyweight division may have started to catch up.
Valentina Shevchenko’s resume would impress even the greatest MMA fighters today. However, the Kyrgyzstan native is seemingly nearing the twilight zone of her career, with many believing her age is affecting her performance. Erin Blanchfield and others assert that Shevchenko no longer possesses the mercurial championship skills she once had.
In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, ‘Cold Blooded’ weighed in on Valentina Shevchenko’s skills as a fighter. Blanchfield claimed that Shevchenko’s age is a massive hurdle to her drive and that she’s displaying repetitive game plans. She continued to suggest that Shevchenko finds it hard to adjust to newer opponents and could lose to Grasso again.