SOURCES: Antonina Shevchenko vs. Roxanne Modafferi slated for Russia
Sources close to MyMMANews.com have stated that a pair of fighters in the UFC’s women’s flyweight division are being targeted to compete on April 20 in St. Petersburg, Russia.
The number 8 ranked 125-pounder, Roxanne Modafferi (22-15) will look to stop the hype behind 34-year-old Antonina Shevchenko (7-0), sister of UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
“The Happy Warrior” Modafferi, dropped a unanimous decision to Sijara Eubanks at UFC 230 at Madison Square Garden in November and is looking to get back on track. Modafferi competed for the inaugural UFC women’s flyweight title in December 2017 but lost a unanimous decision to Nicco Montaño. She bounced back seven months later to score a TKO victory over Barb Honchak.
Antonina secured a unanimous decision win over Ji Yeon Kim at the Ultimate Fighter Season 28 Finale in December. She earned a spot on the UFC roster in June 2018 when she defeated Jaimee Nievera on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series. Antonina was to face Ashlee Evans-Smith in her UFC debut during the TUF28 Finale but unfortunately “Rebel Girl” Evans-Smith had to withdraw due to injury.
The UFC has not officially announced the Modaferri vs. Shevchenko fight. The rumored event headliner is Alistair Overeem vs. Alexander Volkov.
The fight card is scheduled to take place at the newly constructed Gazprom Arena, which holds more than 65,000 people for World Cup soccer games and could potentially hold 80,000 people for an UFC event. The event is currently listed as airing on ESPN+.
This St. Petersburg fight card will be the second that the UFC has held in Russia following the promotion’s debut in the country in September of 2018.
