Valentina Shevchenko blasts judges’ decision at UFC 215: ‘I won this fight’

Valentina Shevchenko was baffled at how Amanda Nunes was awarded a split decision victory after their 25-minute clash in the main event of UFC 215 in Edmonton on Saturday night.

The challenger stood dejected with her hands on her hips after Nunes’ successful bantamweight title defense was made official at Rogers Place.

Shevchenko pulled no punches when Joe Rogan asked her how she felt about suffering her second loss to Nunes in her post-fight interview.

“I really don’t understand why the victory goes to the other side,” Shevchenko said.

“For two takedowns in five rounds? She didn’t hit me with one punch. Nothing significant. Look at her face. Her nose is red from my punches. Why she is still (champion), I don’t understand.

“Even when I was on the ground, I kicked very hard from the ground position and I really don’t understand why (Nunes won).”

Nunes scored valuable leg kicks throughout the fight, but Shevchenko mocked the technique after the bout, suggesting that her leg kicks were a lot harder than the champion’s.

“I think that she didn’t want to be in this fight. She didn’t hit this fight…not one punch. Just like these kicks, these are her kicks,” she said as she kicked the air lightly.

“I hit hard…I hit hard. This is the reason I hit hard,” she explained, pointing to the cut she suffered on her shin. “But this one?” she asked, again lightly kicking the air.

Shevchenko went on to underline her disgruntlement with the judges’ scorecards, and insisted that she would win if she met Nunes for a third time.

“I definitely will win this next fight. I won this fight and I totally disagree with this decision going to the other side. I disagree.”

The defeated Shevchenko continued to air her thoughts on the decision at the post-fight press conference.

She began by claiming she felt she had won the first three rounds.

“My thoughts on this fight…first of all, I respect decision of judge, but I don’t agree with the decision at all,” she said.

“I think this fight…in three rounds this was my points…I won these three rounds. In the final fifth round, only one takedown and she didn’t do nothing, just one takedown.

“And for this takedown to give victory, I don’t agree with this. Even when I was on the ground I was landing more punches and she was just holding the position, nothing more.”

Asked to breakdown the fight by round, Shevchenko initially suggested that she felt the first round was “pretty close” before stating that she won all five rounds.

“After the first round it was pretty close. Second, third and fourth it was mine. And fifth…all the rounds it was mine. Just one takedown, I think about this, the judge gave one to the other side.

“Even this takedown, it was only a control position and I was landing more punches from being on the ground.”

Shevchenko went on the further underline how she felt she did more damage to Nunes.

“I’m frustrated with the decision because I don’t agree totally. My opinion, if it will be victory it should be victory, like, clear. In this fight I see more tactical.

“You can see on her face and my face who landed more punches. I had on my shin stitches because, I don’t know, maybe her teeth. It was cut in, bleeding. I totally disagree.”