AKIPRESS.COM - Valentina Shevchenko lost to Brazilian brawler Amanda Nunes Saturday night by split decision and Nunes retained her bantamweight title at UFC 215.
The judges scored it 47-48, 48-47, 48-47 to run Nunes' record to 15-4, CBS News reported. It was a careful fight with many single shots and few extended skirmishes until Nunes took Shevchenko to the canvas in the fifth round.
Nunes, nicknamed the Lioness, raised her arms in the air as the decision was announced while many of the fans booed the verdict.
She later told reporters her strategy was to go the full five rounds and wear Shevchenko down and then strike — and prove to detractors who said Nunes was an early-round knockout artist and would fade in the long game.
Shevchenko, 29, the Kyrgyzstan fighter nicknamed 'Bullet,' is now 14-3. "I don't agree with the decision at all," Shevchenko said afterward. "I won this fight. My punches were more effective than her punches."
The two were set to fight in July at UFC 213, but Nunes pulled out the day of the fight with sinus issues.