Valentina Shevchenko is heavily favored against Lauren Murphy at UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega on Saturday, September 25 in Las Vegas, Nevada. This event is one of five fights on the main pay-per-view card. Shevchenko is 21-3 in her career, while Murphy is 15-4 in her career. There are a total of five fights on the main pay-per-view card at UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega. There are also a total of nine fights on the preliminary card with five on ESPN/ESPN+ and four on ESPN/ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass. Let’s look at the bout between Shevchenko and Murphy and UFC predictions.
UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, September 25 with five fights on the main pay-per-view card and nine preliminary bouts with five on ESPN/ESPN+ and four on ESPN/ESPN+ and UFC Fight Pass.
UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega Betting
Valentina Shevchenko (21-3, 10-2 UFC)
Shevchenko came into the UFC with a record of 11-1 and she has 10 wins and two losses in the UFC. In her last six fights, she has six wins and no losses. She defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk by unanimous decision, Jessica Eye by KO, Liz Carmouche by unanimous decision, Katlyn Chookagian by TKO, Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision, and Jessica Andrade by TKO. Shevchenko’s last loss in her career was against Amanda Nunes by split decision on September 9, 2017. Shevchenko has been a pro since 2003 and she has seven wins by TKO/KO and seven by submission. She has seven first round finishes.
Lauren Murphy (15-4, 7-4 UFC)
Murphy came into the UFC with a record of 8-0 and she has seven wins and four losses in the UFC. In her last six fights, she has five wins and one loss. She defeated Mara Romero Borella by TKO, Andrea Lee by split decision, Roxanne Modafferi by unanimous decision, Liliya Shakirova by rear-naked choke submission, and Joanne Calderwood by split decision; while losing to Sijara Eubanks by unanimous decision. Murphy has been a pro since 2010 and she has eight wins by TKO/KO and one by submission. She has two first round finishes.
Murphy said this to news.yahoo.com about her upcoming fight against Shevchenko, “I believe in myself, I know that I have a lot of strengths as well. And I think if I just keep doing what I've been doing; it's worked out for the last five fights. So I'm not going to change it now. But it's like if I just keep following the game plan that my coaches give me, if I go out there and fight her the way that I've been sparring, and I capitalize on whatever mistakes she makes, I think I'm going to be OK. I think we can come out with a win here. I really believe in my ability to beat her. And so I know that I can beat Valentina. I know that I can. I hope that I do, and I know that I can.
Striking Stats
Strikes landed per minute: Shevchenko 3.02 / Murphy 3.95
Striking Accuracy: Shevchenko 51% / Murphy 40%
Strikes absorbed per minute: Shevchenko 1.99 / Murphy 4.25
Defense: Shevchenko 62% / Murphy 61%
Grappling Stats
Takedown average: Shevchenko 2.64 / Murphy 1.16
Takedown Accuracy: Shevchenko 63% / Murphy 34%
Takedowns defended: Shevchenko 77% / Murphy 70%
Submission average: Shevchenko 0.4 / Murphy 0.1
UFC Picks
Shevchenko is a huge favorite in this fight at more than 10-1 and I am definitely not laying that type of price on anyone. Murphy has plenty of experience in the UFC but she is probably out of her class in this one. Since I can’t lay the big price and I don’t want to take Murphy, that means looking at the rounds. The rounds are set at 2.5 and I think Murphy can do enough to at least take this fight to a decision, so I will take the rounds to go over the total.
UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega Card & Odds
Featherweight - Brian Ortega +139 vs. Alexander Volkanovski -175
Women’s Flyweight - Lauren Murphy +779 vs. Valentina Shevchenko -1600
Heavyweight - Jairzinho Rozenstruik +251 vs. Curtis Blaydes -335
Welterweight - Nick Diaz -115 vs. Robbie Lawler -115
Women’s Flyweight - Cynthia Calvillo +228 vs. Jessica Andrade -300
Bantamweight - Merab Dvalishvili -260 vs. Marlon Moraes +201
Women’s Flyweight - Mayra Bueno Silva +194 vs. Manon Fiorot-250
Lightweight - Jalin Turner +105 vs. Uros Medic -135
Middleweight - Karl Roberson -110 vs. Nick Maximov -120
Heavyweight - Shamil Abdurakhimov +161 vs. Chris Daukaus -205
Lightweight - Nasrat Haqparast +120 vs. Dan Hooker -150
Women's Flyweight - Roxanne Modafferi +289 vs. Taila Santos -395
Welterweight - Martin Sano Jr. +331 vs. Matthew Semelsberger -465
Featherweight - Jonathan Pearce +131 vs. Omar Morales -165
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