Upcoming Match-ups

MMA Odds: Pena, Shevchenko Fight For Title Shot

Don Aguero

by Don Aguero in News

Updated Jan 17, 2018 · 9:39 AM PST

The new ownership of the UFC has stated it would like to focus more on free-to-air events like UFC on Fox. UFC on Fox 23: Julianna Pena v Valentina Shevchenko is a sign of that. The event takes place on January 28th in Denver, Colorado.

The main event pits the two top contenders in the women’s bantamweight division against each other for a potential title eliminator. Lower on the card is an interesting matchup with Don Cerrone and Jorge Masvidal set to battle, and then there’s the heavyweight clash in Andrei Arlovski vs. Francis Zavier Ngannou.

Let’s take a look at the two big fights.


Julianna Pena (+116) vs Valentina Shevchenko (-144)

Amanda Nunes destroyed Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 and silenced her critics, proving once and for all she is the undisputed women’s bantamweight champion. Now, with Rousey out of the picture, the division has opened up for the likes of Shevchenko (13-2) and Pena (8-2).

Shevchenko is currently the number one contender, though she already lost to Nunes early last year at UFC 196. She then went on to defeat Holly Holm later that year. Before entering the UFC, she had a successful career as a kickboxer and Muay Thai.

Pena hasn’t had the same level of high profile fights as Shevchenko. Her only bout in 2016 was against Cat Zigano, who she beat by unanimous decision. But other than that, she hasn’t really been tested. She’s a skilled striker and grappler but lacks the explosive power of Shevchenko.

Pick: Valentina Shevchenko (-144)


Donald Cerrone (-174) vs Jorge Masvidal (+146)

Cerrone (32-7) is the most active fighter in the UFC and he’s wasted no time getting back into the octagon this year. He last fought a little over a month ago when he traded blows with Matt Brown, ending the fight with a vicious headkick.

Masvidal (31-11) is also very active, with three fights a year since joining the UFC in 2013. He’s a skilled striker with a background in boxing and kickboxing, and originally made a name for himself streetfighting in Miami.

Cerrone is by far the more polished fighter. He’s a lot more versatile and technically gifted, able to fight effectively both on his feet and on the ground. If Cerrone is able to take Masvidal to the mat, he’ll definitely have the upper hand.

Pick: Donald Cerrone (-174)


Photo credit: “Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone” by Martial Arts Nomad, CC BY-SA 2.0 [http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0], via Flickr.

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