UFC expert Adam Matues previews Saturday's big fight between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, revealing his 7/2 best bet.
Nunes is defending her bantamweight title for the first time against Shevchenko in the main event of UFC 215, which takes place on Saturday September 9 at the Rogers Place in Edmonton, Canada.
Here, our resident UFC expert Adam Matues brings you his big-fight verdict while you can click here for all the Sky Bet odds.
Nunes v Shevchenko
A 48-second destruction of Ronda Rousey propelled Amanda Nunes to martial arts superstardom, whilst extending her winning fight streak to five. During this dominant run through the bantamweight division, only one woman has made it beyond the first round with The Lioness and that is the opponent she will share the octagon with again this weekend, Valentina Shevchenko.
Shevchenko bounced back from that defeat with two highly impressive wins versus Holly Holm and Julianna Pena to earn her first title shot. Her decision victory over Holm was particularly inspiring as despite a significant height and reach disadvantage against a world-class striker, she found a way to win - a scenario she will be hoping to replicate this weekend.
This decorated kickboxer is patient in her approach, choosing the right moments to attack accurately. This game plan could be advantageous against the violently aggressive Nunes, with the champion possessing such a ‘kill or be killed’ attitude that just two of her 18 professional MMA bouts have gone the distance.
Nunes often looks to overwhelm her opponents with her powerful striking and if she can keep Shevchenko right at the end of her long reach, where she is most dangerous, then it could be another early finish for the Brazilian with a round two knockout available at 12/1.
However, this high-tempo style has unearthed a history of endurance issues, which became apparent again in her first fight with Shevchenko when, after winning the first two rounds, she dramatically faded in the third and final round.
With her two subsequent fights not going beyond the first, we are yet to find out if those stamina problems have been addressed. If they have not, then in this five-round fight, expect Shevchenko to take minimum risks in the early rounds and use her excellent skills in the clinch to drain the limited energy resources of Nunes before taking control in the latter rounds.
Therefore, my main bet will be Shevchenko to win on points at 7/2 and be crowned the new UFC Bantamweight Champion.
UFC Tips
Main bet: Shevchenko to win on points - 7/2
Undercard Acca: Cejudo, Melendez & Dos Anjos all to win by decision - 12/1
