Cong
Wang believes she can beat Valentina
Shevchenko yet again after a highlight-reel finish to start off
her
Ultimate Fighting Championship career.
Advertisement
Wang started off the preliminary action opposite Victoria
Leonardo at UFC
on ESPN 62 on Saturday. “The Joker,” who dressed up as her
moniker during pre-fight face-offs, took just 62 seconds to shut
the lights out on Leonardo with a vicious right hand. This also
marked the fastest finish in history for a UFC women’s flyweight
debutant.
The undefeated Chinese standout subsequently called out Casey
O’Neill in a bid to fast track her way to the rankings.
“Just looking at the rankings. I think it’s a good fight,” Wang
said during a post-fight media scrum. “I just want to jump in
the rankings and get my title shot.”
Wang also holds a unanimous decision victory in kickboxing over
former UFC champ Shevchenko in 2015 under the Kunlun Fight banner.
The former 32-year-old Wushu champion, Asian Games medallst and
amateur boxing World Championships medalist believes she has all
the necessary skills to replicate that win over Shevchenko in
MMA.
“You guys only know I beat Shevchenko in kickboxing,” Wang said.
“But you don’t know, I’m a Sanda world champion, boxing world
champion and kickboxing world champion. I think [if you] compare
Valentina
Shevchenko to me, she has more experience. But I took some time
to compete in boxing. I believe my striking is better than
her.”
Speaking of a potential timeline for that matchup, Wang said she’s
ready whenever “Bullet” is. However, Shevchenko is currently
focused on an attempt to reclaim her flyweight title in a trilogy
clash against Alexa
Grasso in the main event at UFC
306 on Sept. 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Having shared the
ring with Shevchenko, Wang believes she can beat Grasso.
“I believe she can take the title again,” Wang said. “Because we
competed in kickboxing, I know how good she is and I believe in
her.”