Top Picks for UFC 266: Alexander Volkanovski vs. Brian Ortega

UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega is one of my most favorite cards. The entire card is stacked from top to bottom with some of the greatest matchups; on the main card itself, we will see Jessica Andrade vs. Cynthia Calvillo, Curtis Blaydes vs. Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Nick Diaz vs. Robbie Lawler, and more. Read below for my breakdown and pick for the co-main event, Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy. 

Valentina Shevchenko vs. Lauren Murphy

UFC Women’s Flyweight Bout - Co-Main

Saturday, September 25, 2021 - 11:25 PM EDT at the T-Mobile Arena

Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina “Bullet” Shevchenko is a Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. 

She is currently ranked #2 in the UFC Women’s pound-for-pound rankings, and is the current UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. 

From 2003 to 2015, Shevchenko won more than 50 amateur and pro matches in K-1, Muay Thai, and kickboxing. She won 8 gold medals in the IFMA world championships and the IMFA Royal World Cup in 2015. 

Her professional debut was made at the age of 15 years old in 2003 at Kyrgiz Federation; she won against Eliza Aidaralieva and won via TKO in the second round. 

Bullet made her UFC debut as a last minute replacement against Sarah Kaufman and won via split decision. 

Fast forward to 2018, it was announced Shevchenko would compete against Joanna J?drzejczyk for the vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight title. Shevchenko won via unanimous decision, becoming the new UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. 

Of all her MMA accomplishments, Shevchenko has achieved numerous awards: UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion with 5 successful title defenses, First woman to defend UFC Women’s Flyweight championship, UFC Performance of the Night (three times), most knockout wins in UFC Flyweight division history (3), hold victories over three former UFC champions (Holly Holm, Joanna J?drzejczyk, and Jessica Andrade), and many more.

https://twitter.com/MMAjunkie/status/1440768380936462338

Lauren Murphy

Lauren “Lucky” Murphy is an American mixed martial artist currently ranked #3 in the UFC Women’s Flyweight division, ranked #13 in the UFC Women’s pound-for-pound rankings, and is also the former Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion.

Lucky’s professional career began in 2019 in the featherweight division. She won four straight bouts and secured two featherweight titles. 

She then went on to make her Invicta FC debut in 2013 against Kailin Young; she won via unanimous decision. 

Her UFC debut was in 2014 against Sara McMann, and she won via split decision. 

Of all Murphy’s MMA accomplishments, she has achieved: Alaska Cage Fighting Women’s Featherweight Champion (one time), Alaska Fighting Championship Women’s Featherweight Champion (one time), Invicta FC Bantamweight Champion (one time), UFC Fight of the Night (one time), ad 2014 IBJJF Blue Belt Middleweight No Gi World Championship Gold Medalist. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FN-QcLy4tAg

Prediction

I included this breakdown in my Top UFC Picks video, and I will include it here because this is a pretty straight forward fight. 

I will be very shocked if Lauren Murphy is able to secure a win over the relentless Valentina Shevchenko on Saturday night. 

The current at your Top Sportsbooks are: Valentina Shevchenko -1700 and Lauren Murphy +850.

Like I stated in my video breakdown, Shevchenko is by far the toughest woman in her division. One of the toughest was the former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, Jessica Andrade. She defeated Andrade via T/KO in the second round. 

Lauren Murphy is an aggressive fighter that has won numerous championships within her professional career. However, she has not faced an opponent like Shevchenko yet. So this will, in fact, be her toughest bout. 

Murphy will need to work on her striking defense since she averages 3.95 significant strikes per minute and allows 4.25. 

Her striking defense worries me, especially against a skilled mixed martial artist like Shevchenko. I don’t see this fight going the full 5 rounds, and since Shevchenko has incredibly juiced odds, I will result in the MMA props. 

UFC Pick: (Sportsbook Review)