NEWARK, N.J. – After almost pulling off an armbar in Round 1, Antonina Shevchenko submitted Lucie Pudilova in Round 2 of their women’s flyweight bout Saturday on the preliminary card at UFC on ESPN 5 in Newark, N.J.
Take a look inside the fight with Shevchenko, who put Pudilova to sleep with a rear-naked choke.
Result: Antonina Shevchenko def. Lucie Pudilova via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 1:20
Updated records: Shevchenko (8-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Pudilova (8-4 MMA, 2-3 UFC)
Key stat: Shevchenko landed 36 of 44 strikes for 82 percent accuracy.
Shevchenko on the fight’s key moment
“I feel great. It’s a great victory. I didn’t feel the elbow (was) hard, but I knew I was bleeding. I saw she was pretty open for submissions in the first round, so I took it. I felt that she was out.”
Shevchenko on the surprises Pudilova presented
“I didn’t expect her to grapple like that. I thought we would put on a striking fight. As soon as she clinched, I understood she didn’t want to strike. She thought she could wrestle me. I showed her that I’m strong in the clinch, too.”
Shevchenko on what she wants next
“I want to come back as soon as possible. Every fight gives me motivation. I just want to climb to the top of the division. That’s where I’m going.”
To hear more from Shevchenko, check out the video of the full post-fight interview above.
