It was a busy night Saturday for the women’s flyweight division. In one of three 125lb match-ups, Andrea Lee was looking to snap a three-fight skid when she ran up against “La Pantera” Antonina Shevchenko at UFC 262.
Lee’s losses had come to some of the best of the 125lb division, but 0-3 is 0-3 and never a good look in the octagon, making Saturday night a must-win affair.
Lee opened the affair with a high kick that missed, and looked to strike her way inside on the taller, longer Shevchenko. In the clinch, however, Shevchenko was able to control her opponent and land a number of knees. Her reached allowed her to find a home for her combinations as well, giving her the edge both in the clinch and at range early. Things picked up with Lee fired a kick just as Shevchenko fired a spinning back first. Lee was able to land her next attack, then get the fight to the ground with a minute remaining in the frame.
The second round opened with a Lee spinning back fist, which “KGB” converted into a takedown. A scramble later, and Lee was in side control, then transitioned to a triangle. Shevchenko was in a bad spot, eating a number of elbows while trapped in the submission. Lee seemed to switch between strikes, fighting for an arm, and focusing on the triangle. The longer the sequence went on, the more likely it was that Shevchenko would survive — but try as she might, Lee couldn’t put her opponent away, until Lee finally secured an arm, tucking it under her arm and rolling, forcing the tap!
GETS THE TAP 🔥@AndreaKGBLee locks it in tight to get the sub!
[ #UFC262 |Prelims LIVE on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/t9vZVDPZJ7
— UFC (@ufc) May 16, 2021
Official Result: Andrea Lee def. Antonina Shevchenko by submission (arm-bar), Round 2, 4:52
