Women’s Flyweights
Antonina Shevchenko (9-4, 3-4 UFC) vs. Cortney Casey (10-9, 6-8 UFC)Shevchenko fights with a similar style to that of her younger sister, albeit without any of the physical gifts that make the reigning flyweight champion a truly elite fighter. All else being equal, Shevchenko values control—whether it is keeping her opponents at range or neutralizing them in the clinch or on the mat. However, without the physicality to back it up, “La Pantera” often finds herself in trouble, whether it is her inability to keep her counterparts at bay or locking horns while at a clear strength advantage. There is enough skill for Shevchenko to handle herself quite well against the lower reaches of the flyweight division, but with the name value that her bloodline provides, she also gets few moments to take a step back in competition. She faces another tough veteran in this assignment. Casey’s strawweight career was marked by her being a standout athlete who was willing to scrap, though she never particularly separated herself from the pack. She often found herself at a speed disadvantage, and the lack of variety in Casey’s approach meant “Cast Iron” would wind up on both sides of some narrow decisions. After a move up to flyweight in 2020, Casey has wound up in much the same place. Like Shevchenko, she has proven she can show out opposite the fringes of the UFC’s flyweight roster but fights relatively even against everyone else. Between the offensive skills and defensive openings on display, this should devolve into an entertaining mess, and Casey seems a bit more trustworthy and confident in keeping up a higher pace. This is basically a coinflip, but the pick is Casey via decision.
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