December 23, 2024

UFC 238 results: Valentina Shevchenko demolishes Jessica Eye with vicious head kick KO

By Damon Martin@DamonMartin

MMAfighting.com

Valentina Shevchenko capped off the first defense of her UFC flyweight title with one of the most vicious head kick knockouts in recent memory

The end came just 26 seconds into the second round after Shevchenko uncorked a hellacious kick that bounced off of Eye’s head and sent her crashing unconscious to the canvas. The knockout left Eye motionless on the canvas for several minutes before she finally got up to her feet as she cleared the cobwebs following the shocking end to the fight.

The knockout was set up during the opening round when Shevchenko blasted Eye to the body with a pair of blistering kicks in the first exchange on the feet. When Shevchenko set up the same combination in the second round, Eye ducked down to protect her body and disaster soon followed.

“In the first round, I felt the kick to the body went through and she a little bit broke,” Shevchenko said after the fight was over. “That’s why I knew it would work. In the second round, I continued and then I think if she is thinking I will kick in the liver maybe I have change the levels. It came up naturally from my side.”

It was a picture perfect performance from Shevchenko after she mauled Eye on the ground for the majority of the opening round, surprising the Ohio native with a pair of takedowns following those early body kicks.

Eye struggled to get out from underneath Shevchenko as she went back to her corner after the round ended in an attempt to get reset.

As it turns out, Eye never got the chance thanks to the brutal head kick courtesy of the reigning flyweight champion, who now moves to 18-3 in her career with a perfect 3-0 mark since moving to 125 pounds.

As far as what comes next, the gap between Shevchenko and the rest of the flyweight division would appear to be rather wide but she didn’t shy away from facing whoever the UFC threw at her next when it’s time to defend her title again.

“All [top 10 fighters], they’re very strong, very talented girls,” Shevchenko said. “I will be happy to fight each one because for 125 [pounds], it’s the future of female MMA in UFC.”

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