“La Pantera” vs. “The Violence Queen” at UFC 255 was more than your average women’s flyweight fight. On paper, it was a chance for Ariane Lipski, the aforementioned Queen of violent tendencies in the cage, to put herself in title contention. A win Saturday would make it three straight, and one against the champion’s sister, an added bonus. Antonina Shevchenko, whose sister Valentina was set to defend her title later in the night, was looking to prove she belonged among the UFC’s elite.
What better way to do that, than to capture a win against Lipski, a former KSW champion in the running for submission of the year?
Both ladies connected early and clean to open up what turned out to be a dominant performance from the older Shevchenko sister.
That first exchange led to a clinch along the fence, with the pair reversing again and again. Shevchenko would finally be the one to get the fight to the ground, using a headlock to complete a throw. That, however, gave Lipski a chance to take her opponent’s back. Shevchenko appeared aware, turned into her opponent, and wound up in half-guard. Shevchenko managed to trap Lipski in a rather awkward position, scoring some ground n’ pound prior to round’s end.
Antonina Shevchenko forced the fight to the mat early in round two. She worked from the top, with Lipski trying desperately to maintain half-guard. Shevchenko stepped over into side control regardless. “La Pantera” then trapped both of Lipski’s arms with her legs, in a rather slick move, and nearly took the back. Shevchenko would spend the entire round on top from that point out, taking the back at the end and dropping punches from there until the ref finally waved it off!
Much improved grappling from Antonina Shevchenko set up the possibility of her and sister Valentina both winning on the same night. Which would be the icing on the cake on a historic night, with sisters competing on the same UFC card for the first time.
And the Shevchenko's start 1️⃣-0️⃣!
🇰🇬 @AntoninaPantera shows she can get it done on the ground in RD 2. #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/UKchqRLIxb
— UFC (@ufc) November 22, 2020
Official Result: Antonina Shevchenko def. Ariane Lipski by TKO, Round 2, 4:33
