MMA Preview – Valentina Shevchenko vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231
AT A GLANCE
When is UFC 231? Sunday 9th December, 2018 – 01:00 (UK)
Where is UFC 231? Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, Canada
What channel is UFC 231 on? BT Sport 3
Where can I stream UFC 231? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT website
Are tickets still available for UFC 231? http://uk.ufc.com/event-ticket...
THE STATISTICS
THE LOWDOWN
The organising of this scrap has been chaotic and all came about after Nicco Montaño was unable to defend her strawweight belt. Former bantamweight Valentina Shevchenko had been scheduled to fight Montaño, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Sijara Eubanks but the UFC eventually settled on Jedrzejczyk in Canada, and what a fight it is going to be between two of the most talented women in MMA, with both changing divisions to meet for the flyweight championship.
Shevchenko has already fought the former strawweight champion in amateur Kickboxing and Muay Thai fights and got the better of her on all three occasions. However, Jedrzejczyk has been more successful in MMA, defending her title five times, but Shevchenko is a different beast and is dropping down from 135 lbs where the current champion, Amanda Nunes, was the only fighter to beat her in the UFC and they were very tight decisions.
THE PREDICTION
Even though Jedrzejczyk is moving up from 115 lbs and Shevchenko is moving down from 135 lbs, there will be little difference in size. This is definitely a more natural weight for Shevchenko and Jedrzejczyk will not have to cut much so we could easily see the best versions of these elite fighters.
Shevchenko is world class everywhere and she will have the advantage in the grappling department. but the fight is unlikely to take that route. They are two of the best strikers in MMA and Shevchenko will look to prove she is the Kickboxing and Muay Thai master again whereas Jedrzejczyk will seek revenge and prove she is now a different animal, calling upon her evolved stand-up skills that made her the fearsome strawweight champion.
This is one of the most exciting fights the UFC could make right now and although Jedrzejczyk will go down as one of the best ever female fighters, we could witness the early reign of the best flyweight champion of all time.
Winner: Shevchenko via Decision
Striking and grappling stats sourced via FightMetric
