Sister act: Shevchenko goals to step from the shadows and present her abilities as submission sensation Lipski goals for prime at UFC 255

Valentina Shevchenko’s sister, Antonina, faces a tactical battle at UFC 255 towards Ariane Lipski, the previous KSW title holder recognized for a vicious submission earlier this 12 months, with admirers together with former champion Cris Cyborg.

A lot of the speak round Antonina Shevchenko’s battle on Saturday has centered on her household affair, combating on the identical invoice as revered UFC champion sister Valentina within the first UFC occasion to characteristic two sisters on the invoice.

Shevchenko’s opponent, Lipski, is likely one of the few feminine fighters who can rival her fanbase, helped by a headline-grabbing win earlier this 12 months when she beat Luana Carolina with an excruciating-looking kneebar in a submission of the 12 months contender.

This day out, Lipski and Shevchenko each have a degree to show as they give the impression of being to determine their credentials as reliable contenders andin the method reply critics providing withering value determinations of their latest information.

THE VIOLENCE QUEEN.

Go step-by-step on @Ariane_Lipski's kneebar 😳 #UFC255 pic.twitter.com/7slTrOzTXn

— UFC (@ufc) November 18, 2020

Placing out

Shevchenko’s a whole bunch of 1000’s of followers know her as a lot for the enthusiasms she shares together with her youthful sibling, together with weaponry and flying planes, as her combating prowess.

But to offer a convincing UFC efficiency, she may envisage staying at vary and securing a probable factors win by way of her stronger hanging skills as her most evident path victory within the Octagon.

5 months in the past, when Shevchenko’s hanging had been anticipated to trigger issues for Katlyn Chookagian, the flyweight quantity two capitalized on her wrestling flaws on the way in which to a unanimous choice win.

Chookagian was hardly famous for her floor abilities earlier than her win, which laid naked the deficiencies that her sufferer has been concentrating on in coaching.

“I’ve labored on all the pieces,” mentioned Shevchenko.

“In MMA, you can’t simply say, ‘I’m world Muay Thai champion – I do not want good wrestling or grappling.

“Even when you’re good at all the pieces, you possibly can lose. We’ve been making an attempt to get higher at all the pieces – my hanging additionally wanted to be sharper.”

Lipski aiming for the summit

9 years Shevchenko’s junior, “The Queen of Violence” is aware of win would supply a major present of intent as she continues to recuperate from a stuttering begin following her change to the UFC final 12 months.

“This battle is an excellent problem in my profession,” mentioned the understated Brazilian. “Antonina is an efficient identify to battle. She is the sister of the champion with an analogous recreation.”

Her early encounters have raised main questions over Lipski’s potential to compete on the prime of the division. The win that preceded her victory over little-known Carolina was a much-needed stroll towards an opponent ranked exterior of the highest 100, Isabela de Pádua.

The three-time KSW champion seemed outclassed in her opening two bouts for the promotion, offering snug factors victories for Joanne Calderwood and Molly McCann, however she believes that these have been necessary studying fights.

“I count on to win this battle very clearly, by KO or submission,” she has boldly predicted of her scrap with Shevchenko. “After that, I will the highest.”

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Late starter Shevchenko searching for a kickstart

Having solely relaunched her skilled MMA profession in 2017 following a trio of early wins greater than a decade in the past, Shevchenko is a comparatively recent face within the flyweight division, albeit an instantly-hyped one due to her household connection.

Nonetheless, at 35 and having misplaced two of her final three fights, the embellished Muay Thai champion can not afford to lose to Lipski if she is to step a minimum of a way out of Valentina’s appreciable shadow.

“She’s robust, aggressive, sturdy,” Shevchenko mentioned of Lipski. “I simply should be the identical or extra aggressive than her.”

Shevchenko will intention to make use of her experiences towards Roxanne Modafferi, Chookagian and Lucie Pudilová – all harder checks than Lipski’s most up-to-date opponents – to forestall Lipski from efficiently strolling her down.

Beware the Lipski floor recreation

Lipski’s blueprint for victory was underlined by Modafferi, whose grappling abilities led to Shevchenko’s first skilled defeat when she misplaced on a cut up choice in St. Petersburg in April 2019.

That weak point, allied with Lipski’s eye-catching conclusion to her conflict with Carolina, makes for a probably entertaining distinction in types.

“It was a really totally different submission as a result of it was a counter-attack – I do not know if it was one of the best submission of the 12 months,” laughed Lipski. “However for me, it was.”

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Lipski’s husband and coach, Renato da Silva Jr, has described her as a “full athlete” coming into the competition.

“He is making me an excellent fighter,” she mentioned. “Subsequent 12 months goes to be my 12 months.

“The coaching camp for this battle was so laborious however I really feel so good and robust for this battle. Do not blink, as a result of I can end the battle as quickly as you suppose.”

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