Antonina Shevchenko vs Ji Yeon Kim Gets The Green Light

Antonina Shevchenko vs Ji Yeon Kim Gets The Green Light

By Calum Christie  

There was a lot of speculation over the last 24 hours over the eagerly anticipated flyweight bout between Antonina Shevchenko (6-0 MMA) and Ji Yeon Kim (8-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) going ahead due to Kim missing weight and the fighters not making an appearance on the ceremonial weigh-in show.

Antonina Shevchenko is the sister of Valentina Shevchenko (15-3 MMA) who faces former straweight queen Joanna Jędrzejczyk (15-2) for the vacant flyweight title next weekend in Toronto, Canada on the UFC 231 PPV on Dec. 8.

‘La Pantera’ made weight yesterday stepping on the scale at 124.5lbs whereas her opponent Ji Yeon Kim missed weight by a relatively large margin weighing in at 130.5lbs, 4.5 pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit of 126. This is the first time that Kim has missed weight fighting under the UFC promotion.

Ji Yeon Kim is coming off the back of a split decision win over former TUF 26 newcomer Melinda Fábián (4-4) in a gritty contest back June. Her only defeat in the promotion comes at the hands of Czech Republican striker Lucie Pudilová (8-3).

Fans were left unsure if the fight had been sanctioned due to the notable absence of Shevchenko and Kim on the ceremonial weigh-ins which aired live last night. It appeared that there was concerns by the NSAC over the 6-pound weight discrepancy between the two flyweight contenders and the fight was close to being scratched.

It looked like it was going to be another let down for the Shevchenko family who have had a tough year of getting to the octagon. Valentina was scheduled to face inaugural flyweight champion and TUF 26 winner Nicco Montaño for the title which failed to come to fruition on numerous occasions throughout 2018 and It looked like this misfortune was going to continue over for the older sister with Kim drastically missing weight and putting the contest in jeopardy.

But it was around 12 hours after the original weigh-in that the bout got confirmed to be official. The Korean fighter will give up 30% of her fight purse for the infraction and the fight will proceed as at catchweight bout on the main card.