5 best rivalries between female fighters in UFC history
Rivalries are commonplace in the UFC. They're explosive, generate fan interest in bouts, and often lead to promotional goldmines for the UFC. In any sport, elite competitors are bound to have heated exchanges, least of all when the sport in question involves physical combat.
Defending champions feel slighted by the bold proclamations of challengers they believe are trying to take food off their table. Meanwhile, ambitious challengers are eager to fulfill their lifelong dream of capturing UFC gold, and see the reigning champion as an obstacle.
At times, however, fighters that are matched up simply do not like each other. Their personalities are incompatible and clash, leading to rivalries that seem to arise for no discernible reason. This is the case in both the men's and women's divisions. This list breaks down the greatest rivalries between female fighters in UFC history.
#5 Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko
Twice Valentina Shevchenko lost to Amanda Nunes. While the first fight was a more convincing win for Nunes, the second bout was a closer split-decision win for the Brazilian.
Their second bout was greater in magnitude than their first as it was contested for the UFC bantamweight title. The UFC's initial attempt at booking it for UFC 213 failed as Nunes pulled out of the fight due to illness.
Valentina Shevchenko’s octagon interview after second fight with Amanda Nunes Follow Us on Instagram : ift.tt/3fQpgVh
#UFCvegas35 #UFC265 #UFC266 #UFCFightnight #MMA #UFC https://t.co/o6MW9gsVrG
Shevchenko, however, believed Nunes' withdrawal was due to a poor weight cut. In the aftermath of their bout, which she lost, Shevchenko, who is typically composed and soft-spoken, could not contain herself in the post-fight interview after the judges declared Nunes the winner.
With her voice raised in fury, she pointed out the damage visible on Nunes' face, asserting that her foe had not won the fight and that she couldn't make sense of the judges' decision-making.
The rivalry has only heightened since Shevchenko's dominant run as the flyweight champion, with Shevchenko aiming to challenge the winner of the upcoming Julianna Pena-Amanda Nunes bantamweight title fight at UFC 277.