Antonina Shevchenko Earns Contract, Joins Valentina as First Sisters in the UFC
Antonina Shevchenko earned a UFC contract with a blistering performance in the featured bout on Dana White’s Contender Series on Tuesday night.
Antonina will now join top ranked flyweight contender Valentina Shevchenko as they become the first sisters to ever compete together in the UFC.
Antonina Shevchenko had an easy night at the office as she absolutely bludgeoned late replacement opponent Jaymee Nievara over the course of two rounds before earning the TKO victory.
Shevchenko bloodied Nievara with a series of damaging knee strikes from inside the Muay Thai clinch, which is exactly how she earned the finish in the second round. With Nievara trapped against the cage, Shevchenko just began unloading a barrage of knee strikes that eventually forced referee Herb Dean to step in and stop the carnage.
The end came at 3:22 into the second round.
“We were training so hard for this training camp for this fight to have this opportunity to sign with the UFC of course. I’m glad to get this win,” Shevchenko said after the victory.
A few minutes later, UFC president Dana White confirmed that Antonina would join her sister Valentina as part of the UFC roster.
“It means so much for me,” Shevchenko said about earning the UFC contract. “I’m so proud of us. First sisters in the UFC. I’m so proud.”
Elsewhere on the card on Tuesday night, Te Edwards also earned a UFC contract with a vicious first round knockout against Austin Tweedy. Edwards now has six professional wins, all by first round knockout.
Heavyweight fighter Josh Parisian stepped in on just four days notice and earned a stunning spinning back fist knockout against Greg Rebello but he didn’t get the UFC contract. Instead, White sent Parisian to “The Ultimate Fighter” season 28 as a contestant after he was originally selected as an alternate for the show.
Speaking of “The Ultimate Fighter”, season 22 alum Julian Erosa landed a spectacular head kick knockout to defeat Jamall Emmers but he also wasn’t selected to join the UFC roster. White did say that Erosa would get the call if any fighters fall out of upcoming bouts so he could step in as a replacement.
In the first fight of the night, Jordan Williams earned a TKO victory against Tim Caron but didn’t get the call to join the UFC after Tuesday night’s card.
