Armenian Athlete Receives 45 Strikes to the Face from Antonina Shevchenko

Mixed martial artist Antonina Shevchenko from Kyrgyzstan has shared a photo following her defeat to American-Armenian fighter Katlyn Chookagian at the UFC on ESPN 9 event. She posted the image on her Instagram account.

The photo shows numerous signs of injury on her face, including scratches and bruises. “MMA is a tough sport, but this is my path, and I will come back stronger,” wrote Shevchenko.

Followers are showing their support, wishing her a swift return to the ring.

The fight took place on the night of May 30-31 in Las Vegas. Chookagian landed 202 strikes on her opponent, 45 of them to the head. The American-Armenian was declared the winner unanimously by the judges.

This is Shevchenko's second loss in her career, which includes a total of 7 victories. Chookagian has won her 14th fight, while the American fighter has recorded 3 losses throughout her career.

Earlier, in an interview with Sputnik Armenia, Chookagian discussed her Armenian roots and what fascinates her about mixed martial arts.