The best and worst from UFC Fight Night 149: Overeem vs. Oleinik

#3 Best: Modafferi strikes a blow for the less athletic

Despite a lack of athleticism, Roxanne Modafferi keeps on doing well in the UFC

When the UFC began back in 1993, Royce Gracie and his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu proved that a less athletic fighter could overcome faster, stronger opponents simply by using superior skills. 25 years on, things have obviously changed dramatically and those more athletic fighters are now equally as skilled – if not more so – than everyone else. But last night, Roxanne Modafferi proved that there’s still a place in the UFC for fighters who aren’t necessarily athletically gifted.

‘The Happy Warrior’ – who unsuccessfully challenged for the UFC Flyweight title in 2017 – has never been an explosive athlete, and she’s said herself that she’s struggled against bigger, stronger opponents in the past. But faced with a far better athlete last night in the vaunted prospect Antonina Shevchenko, she came through brilliantly, using her underrated takedowns and ground game to dominate ‘Pantera’ for the first two rounds, eventually winning a split decision.

Will Modafferi ever hold UFC gold? The answer is most likely not, but the fact that she was able to beat an opponent like Shevchenko last night was a massive accomplishment for her, particularly as she’s now a 16-year veteran. Modafferi gives hope to every less-athletically gifted fighter out there, and you’ve got to respect that.