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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 08: Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan celebrates her KO victory over Jessica Eye in their women’s flyweight championship bout during the UFC 238 event at the United Center on June 8, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

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CHICAGO, IL – JUNE 08: Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan celebrates her KO victory over Jessica Eye in their women’s flyweight championship bout during the UFC 238 event at the United Center on June 8, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
UFC 266 will see a women’s flyweight title fight go down in the co-main event of the pay-per-view. Perhaps the most dominant champion in the UFC today, Valentina Shevchenko will defend her flyweight title against the perennial contender of the division, Lauren Murphy. Murphy looks to shock the world this weekend.
Shevchenko has never been defeated in the flyweight division of the UFC. She is currently on a 7-fight winning streak and finished Jessica Andrade in her last fight. ‘Bullet’ is considered one of the most complete fighters to grace the UFC Octagon.

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Apr 24, 2021; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Valentina Shevchenko (Red Gloves) fights Jessica Andrade (Blue Gloves) during UFC 261 at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Murphy, on the other hand, currently rides a 5-fight winning streak in the division. She has defeated some notable names during that period. Her last win was a decision against Joanne Calderwood.
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Shevchenko has a record of 21-3 with 14 finishes. She has 7 T/KO and 7 submission wins in her career s far. Murphy’s record stands at 15-4 with 9 finishes. 8 T/KO and 1 submission comprise those stats for her.
Also Read: UFC 266: Alexander Volkanovski vs Brian Ortega- Prediction and Analysis
Valentina Shevchenko vs Lauren Murphy: Analysis
Shevchenko is a complete fighter with a versatile skill set. She is extremely dangerous in her stand-up and ground game. ‘Bullet’ likes to take her opponents into deep waters before putting them to sleep.
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Murphy is a solid fighter as well and very tough. She hits hard and is very durable. She will be the older fighter at 38-years of age against the 33-year-old Shevchenko.

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ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – OCTOBER 24: (L-R) Lauren Murphy punches Liliya Shakirova of Uzbekistan in their women’s flyweight bout during the UFC 254 event on October 24, 2020 on UFC Fight Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
While Murphy has been absolutely phenomenal recently, it’s hard to find a situation where she can be too much for ‘Bullet’. The champion is considered one of the best UFC fighters for a reason. So, she might just again reign supreme and even earn a finish after a dominant performance.
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Final Prediction: Valentina ‘Bullet‘ Shevchenko via second-round T/KO
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