Written by Brett Okamoto at ESPN.com
Holly Holm has suffered consecutive defeats for the first time in her storied combat sports career.
Holm (10-2) came up short in a five-round bantamweight fight againstValentina Shevchenko on Saturday. A former professional kickboxer, Shevchenko (13-2) picked Holm apart over the course of 25 minutes en route to a unanimous decision. All three judges scored the fight convincingly for Shevchenko (49-46).
The fight, which headlined UFC Fight Night at the United Center, was Holm’s first appearance since she lost the UFC championship to Miesha Tate in March. Holm submitted to a rear-naked choke in the fifth round of that bout but was mostly in control until then. That was not the case Saturday, as Shevchenko consistently beat Holm to the punch on the feet.
Holm, 34, is 0-2 since knocking Ronda Rousey out at UFC 193 in November. She had never lost back-to-back fights, dating to her professional boxing career from 2002 to 2013.
Valentina Shevchenko, left, utilized a variety of strikes to outwork Holly Holm over five rounds and take home a decision win at UFC Fight Night in Chicago.
“We expected counterpunches, Thai clinch game, trips, and she did all that,” Holm said. “We trained for it. I was taught all the right things. No excuses. My coaches teach me everything. My performance was not right tonight.”
Holm was a betting favorite going into Saturday, though a significant amount of money came in on Shevchenko in the 24 hours leading up the bout. Fighting out of Peru, the native of Kyrgyzstan is a seasoned striker, but Holm is listed as 3 inches taller, with a 2-inch reach advantage. Holm fought at a higher weight in boxing.
In the first round, the size seemed to throw Shevchenko off a bit. Holm dropped Shevchenko with a short right hand and, after giving up a takedown, popped immediately back to her feet.
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