UFC title contender Valentina Shevchenko does not believe in UFC Women’s Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes’ excuse for dropping out of their title fight the day of the fight.
Back in July, at UFC 213, Nunes withdrew from her main event fight against Shevchenko just hours before the event due to illness. During a recent interview, Shevchenko said she doesn’t believe Nunes was actually sick.
“Do I believe (Nunes’ reasoning for canceling the fight)? No,” Shevchenko said. “I don’t believe in this history about sinusitis, all these things. I don’t believe this. The real reason why she pulled out, I think, is she cut too much weight in 24 hours, and she was feeling too weak. This is the real reason.”
Despite Nunes pulling out of the fight last minute, Shevchenko says she is not angry with her upcoming opponent.
“I’m not angry with her, because she is my opponent and I have to pass through her, and nothing more,” Shevchenko said. “And this feeling [of anger] is just not good for the fight. I know exactly what I have to do in the fight and to make things happen, I have to keep my mind cold.
“I never met with my opponents, because for me, she is my opponent. It’s like, just one obstacle [in] my way, before my goal to win the title. How can I be mad? No, I cannot be mad, because I focus on my fight. And for the fight, I have to have my mind very, very cold to make the right decisions.”
Shevchenko will fight Nunes for her title in the co-main event of UFC 215, which will take place Sept. 9 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
