Antonina Shevchenko vs Casey O'Neill Odds, Preview and Prediction, October 2 (10/2): UFC

Credit: photo by Chris Unger/Handout Photo via USA TODAY Sports

 

Odds

Time (Preliinary Card)	4:00 p.m. EST
Antonina Shevchenko money line	+180
Casey O'Neill money line	-220

 

Key stats

	Antonina Shevchenko	Casey O'Neill
Height	5'8	5'8
Weight	125	125
Reach	68'	69'
Record	9-3	7-0
Streak	L1	W7
Last 5	2-3	5-0

 

Preview

 

In the Women’s Flyweight division, we have a showdown between Antonina ‘La Pantera’ Shevchenko and Casey ‘King’ O’Neill. Shevchenko enters this fight off a defeat to Andrea Lee. A fight where Shevchenko’s leaky takedown defense once again led to her downfall. Before the loss, Shevchenko had picked up an impressive TKO victory over Ariane Lipski. Meanwhile, O’Neill picked up her seventh professional win, finishing Lara Procopio. The undefeated Aussie has looked excellent thus far in the UFC, winning both her fights via stoppage.

Prediction

Thus far, Casey O’Neill has shown to be a promising Flyweight prospect. So much so that they have called in Antonina Shevchenko, the sister of Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko, to halt the rise of the Aussie. Obviously that’s more a movie plot rather than why this fight was really made. However, it's an interesting storyline to get behind. Shevchenko is primarily a striker, who is technical and accurate. The problems that have plagued Shevchenko have been the direct result of her iffy takedown defense. In fact, in Shevchenko’s three UFC losses, her opponents were able to take her down three or more times. Something that O’Neill is salivating over, as the well rounded Aussie is averaging 3.47 takedowns per fifteen minutes.

As for a prediction, I have O’Neill winning. At 36 years old, Shevchenko seems to have plateaued as a striker with leaky takedown defense. O’Neill, while young and inexperienced, has been nothing but brilliant. The Aussie should exploit Shevchenko’s weakness rather quickly, and pick up her fifth stoppage victory. Let’s say via submission.

PICK: Casey O’Neill (-220)

 

Find more sports picks from the top sports bettors and MMA experts all in one place using our iOS and Google Play apps, as well as our other articles at Kingpin.pro.  We are the home for MMA picks, sports picks and sports betting.