Holly Holm is set to face another multiple-time world champion in her next trip to the Octagon.
It’s not a rematch against Ronda Rousey, but the former women’s bantamweight queen has a hell of a fight against number nine-ranked 135 lber Valentina Shevchenko. The matchup was confirmed during the broadcast of UFC Rotterdam and is the headliner of the July 23 card at Chicago’s United Center.
BREAKING: #UFCChicago gets its main event! @HollyHolm vs @BulletValentina ➡ https://t.co/VJydsrsBwI pic.twitter.com/u4LKuQJaN1
— UFC (@ufc) May 8, 2016
Holm (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) will enter this fight off the back of her first professional loss at the hands of Miesha Tate at UFC 196. The Preacher’s Daughter will be looking to thrust herself back into the title frame after suffering that fifth-round submission loss.
#ANDNEW!!!
Tate submits Holm in Round 5! #UFC196 https://t.co/iy42pDvXim— eir Sport (@eirSport) March 6, 2016
Former multiple-time kickboxing and Muay Thai world champion Valentina Shevchenko (12-2 MMA, 1-1 UFC) is also coming off a loss. She lost via unanimous decision to Amanda Nunes, who’s getting her title shot against Tate at UFC 200, in her last bout.
However, the elite striker, who has a win over strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a Muay Thai contest, was clearly getting the better of Nunes in the latter exchanges. It will be interesting to see what she can do in a five-round war.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O358oTK3I_c
The co-headliner is set to be another exciting striking affair between two of the greatest knockout artists in the light heavyweight division. Former challengers Anthony Johnson (21-5 MMA, 12-5 UFC) and Glover Teixeira (25-4 MMA, 8-2 UFC) will play the supporting role in a fight that is likely to determine the next contender in the division.
With these latest additions, here’s what UFC on FOX 20’s card is looking like:
Holly Holm vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Anthony Johnson vs. Glover Teixeira
Ryan LaFlare vs. Alexander Yakovlev
George Sullivan vs. Hector Urbina
James Moontasri vs. Alex Oliveira
Luis Henrique vs. Dmitry Smolyakov
Kailin Curran vs. Felice Herrig
Tony Martin vs. Michel Prazeres
Frankie Saenz vs. Eddie Wineland
Edson Barboza vs. Gilbert Melendez
