Fight videos

Valentina Shevchenko vs Priscila Cachoeira from WMMAddict on Vimeo.

Beware of Syuri Kondo

            It's hard to imagine Syuri Kondo not making it into the top 5 of the strawweight division. This obviously means that I would not be surprised if she eventually becomes the champion.  As the former Krush Kickboxing Champion, and the Pancrase 115-lb Champion, she knows what it takes to win the title. 

             She easily has one of the best jabs in WMMA. It is quick, and there is no telegraph on it. She launches it directly from a high guard.  It's often followed very closely by a right hand, which is just as impressive. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and she keeps the distance that her fist has to travel down that straight line very short, which makes it difficult for her opponents to avoid getting hit.

            She has an impressive 14-1 kickboxing record, and is currently undefeated six fights into her MMA career.  She fights like a champion. She has mastered a formidable style and understands how to take control of fights.. She is very consistent with her offense throughout the duration of each round without showing any sign of fatigue.  She is definitely a championship caliber fighter who fights with a determination to set the pace and take her opponents out of their game. 

            She is set to face another talented fighter, Poliana Botelho on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129.  Botelho stopped 5 opponents out of 6 opponents, while Condo has only stopped 1 out of 6.  However, with all due respect to the promising Botelho, I expect Syuri's experience to give her more of an advantage than Poliana's strength & aggression gives to her.  Do not sleep on her.  There is not a single fighter at straw weight who I would bet on against her.

Nicco Montano Blocks Anybody Who Says Valentina's Name

            After Valentina Shevchenko's victory over a tough Priscila Cachoeira many fans were expecting to hear Nicco Montano's thoughts.  They heard nothing.  Even after Dana White confirmed that Valentina will be her first title defense, as well as moving her to the #1 flyweight contender slot, we heard nothing from Nicco.  Fans who so much as mention Valentina's name are blocked from her Instagram.  Yes, even I was blocked.  However, I'm not bitter, but curious.

            I expected to hear something like "I believe Sijara deserves the chance first, but Valentina is also a worthy opponent and I'm looking forward to the challenge", or at least post a promo side by side image.  Not only did Nicco say in a previous interview that she believes Sijara deserves a title shot before Valentina, she also said that Valentina was not the best at flyweight because she has not fought at the weight.  She continued by stating that Bullet should at least have one fight in the division before getting a title shot.  Well, Valentina has had her one fight, and it was one of the most dominant performances in UFC history.   Still, we hear nothing from Nicco about the fight, nor has she even mentioned Valentina's name.  Again, anybody who does will get blocked from her Instagram.

            This is especially interesting considering the fact that she has commented on fights in the past.  This pattern of behavior may raise some questions.  The first is obvious.  Is she afraid?  She informed the public that she was not afraid in an interview before Valentina's victory.  Has her feelings changed after the fight?  Is she so disappointed that Sijara will not get the first shot that she doesn't feel motivated for Shevchenko?  Would Nicco had said something by now if it were announced that her first fight will be against Sijara Eubanks instead?

            Who knows?  The only thing we know for sure is that Nicco does not want to talk about Valentina Shevchenko on her social media, and if you want to continue following her you're not allowed to mention Valentina's name.

Valentina Shevchenko's Massacre in Belem

            Many people who question the match making of UFC should keep in mind that prior to offering the fight to Priscilla, Invicta flyweight champion Jenifer Maia refused to fight Valentina.  We all know Vanzant refused as well.   When big names turn down the offer and it ends up going to small names you cant charge the match makers with conspiring to make Valentina look like a killer.   After so many refusals the UFC has to look into the lower budget / local organizations.  They found an undefeated, 8-0 Priscila with 50% of her wins coming by knockout.  That is an impressive record at the local level, and when you consider that she is a training partner of Jessica Andrede it's a bit unfair not to consider her competitive, regardless of how un-polished her style looks.  Many fighters with power don't need to frame it in a beautiful fashion to be effective.  The match making was as good as the UFC could make it seeing as how other names wanted no part of Bullet at 125.  After last nights performance perhaps we can see why.  Truth is that over 50% of the 125 division may be a mismatch for Bullet.

            The thought of Nicco watching this fight and feeling confident about a victory over Shevchenko sounds far fetched.  If Nicco is like the rest of us she is a bit speechless at the level of danger Valentina presents. I made a pre-fight prediction where I wrote about Valentina eventually losing patience with the amateur style of Priscilla and deciding to press the issue.  Well, there was no eventually.  From the opening bell Valentina proceeded to provide viewers with a mixed martial arts horror movie.

            The beating administered was brutal and difficult for most people to watch.  While people wonder why the ref didn't stop the fight sooner we must also wonder why Priscila's corner did not pull their fighter out of the fight as well.  The reason should be obvious.  Typical of Brazilian fighters, Priscila is one tough girl and she continued to try and fight back.  She is in her home country and I'm sure neither the ref nor Priscila's corner wanted to be charged with stopping the fight unless she was completely neutralized.

            Not only does Valentina already look like the champion of this division, she looks like a frightening champion.  Move over Joanna.. the real boogie woman has arrived.  Anything can happen in a fight but it's hard to envision anybody beating Bullet at 125. This is a lifelong student and master craftswoman in her absolute MMA prime.  A veteran who is only 29 years old.  Enjoy watching her journey because she is a rare fighter that only comes around once per generation. This is mastery on the same level as any historical MMA fighter you can name.  May the future refs have mercy on the souls of her future opponents.