Valentina Shevchenko managed to defend her UFC Women’s Flyweight title with a brutal headkick which knocked Jessica Eye unconscious.
The pair went head to head at UFC 238 at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday night (June 8), but the fight came to an end just 26 seconds into the second round when Shevchenko unleashed the powerful kick to her opponent’s head.
Eye crashed to the canvas and lay motionless for a worrying amount of time, before thankfully regaining consciousness and sitting up after attention from cageside doctors to the relief of the crowd.
Watch the brutal knockout here:
Valentina Shevchenko kicked Jessica Eye so hard to the head. Fear soon ran through everyone watching #UFC238. Listen for the moment when her shin make contact with her head.. Devastating. pic.twitter.com/iEwnQyUV8z
— KevinNoel (@KevinNoel) June 9, 2019
In the opening round, Shevchenko, otherwise known as ‘The Bullet’, blasted Eye with a pair of hard kicks to the body. When she set up the same combination in the second round the American fighter moved to protect her body, but was met instead with the kick to the head.
According to MMA Fighting, the Flyweight title champion spoke about the winning move after the fight came to an end.
She said:
In the first round, I felt the kick to the body went through and she a little bit broke.
That’s why I knew it would work. In the second round, I continued and then I think if she is thinking I will kick in the liver maybe I have change the levels. It came up naturally from my side.
After Eye regained consciousness, Shevchenko hugged her opponent and held off on her signature celebratory dance until the American had left the Octagon.
Twitter users were quick to comment on the stunning display, with one person describing Shevchenko as ‘the most dangerous woman on the planet’:
Valentina Shevchenko is the most dangerous woman on the planet..#UFC238 pic.twitter.com/hQV2nymfIG
— Michael Morgan (@mikewhoatv) June 9, 2019
Valentina Shevchenko might be the scariest/nicest human on this planet. Not sure if that makes sense. #UFC238
— Danny Segura (@dannyseguratv) June 9, 2019
Another wrote:
Valentina Shevchenko with one of the most brutal headkick knockouts you will ever see.
Valentina Shevchenko with one of the most brutal headkick knockouts you will ever see. #UFC238
**WARNING – not for the faint hearted** pic.twitter.com/Dvc42l7m7i
— Ryan Evans (@RyanEvans87) June 9, 2019
With a record of 16-3-0 following UFC 238, Shevchenko has certainly proved she’s a force to be reckoned with and there’s no doubt her next opponent will have their work cut out.
The Flyweight champ is looking forward to defending her title again, as she said:
All [top 10 fighters], they’re very strong, very talented girls. I will be happy to fight each one because for 125 [pounds], it’s the future of female MMA in UFC.
Rather them than me!
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Emily Brown first began delivering important news stories aged just 13, when she launched her career with a paper round. She graduated with a BA Hons in English Language in the Media from Lancaster University, and went on to become a freelance writer and blogger. Emily contributed to The Sunday Times Travel Magazine and Student Problems before becoming a journalist at UNILAD, where she works on breaking news as well as longer form features.