Wang Cong confident she'd beat Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC – like she did in kickboxing
LAS VEGAS – Wang Cong arrived in style during UFC on ESPN 62 fight week – from her faceoff dressed as the “Joker” to her 62-second one-punch knockout of Victoria Leonardo.
Though she only holds a half-dozen fights-worth of MMA experience, Cong (6-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has a hefty resume of combat sports bouts. That includes a 2015 kickboxing victory over Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 13-2-1 UFC).
Should they ever meet in the UFC, Cong thinks something similar will transpire.
“You guys only know I beat Shevchenko in kickboxing,” Cong told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a post-fight news conference. “But you don’t know I’m a sambo world champion, a boxing world champion, and a kickboxing world champion. I think comparing Valentina Shevchenko to me is that she has more experience. But I took some time to compete in boxing. I believe my striking is better than her. … If she takes the fight, (I can beat her) any time.”
Shevchenko competes Sept. 14 in a title challenge vs. Alexa Grasso in the UFC 306 co-main event, so Cong likely has a way to go before a rematch occurs. In the meantime, Cong has faith in her past opponent.
“I believe she can take the fight to (Grasso) again,” Cong said. “Because we competed in kickboxing, I know how good she is, and I believe in her (to win at UFC 306).”
Following her victory Saturday, she called for a fight vs. Casey O’Neill as her next potential outing. O’Neill (10-2 MMA, 5-2 UFC) defeated Luana Santos at UFC 305 on Aug. 17, but was handed a 180-day medical suspension by the Western Australia Combat Sports Commission. The extent of the injury or whether or not it was precautionary is not yet known.
But for Cong, the callout was more about where (in the rankings) and not who.
“I just looked at the rankings board and think it’s a good fight,” Cong said. “I just want to jump in the rankings and get my title shot.”
Regardless of who or when or where is next for her, Cong radiates confidence, as she without hesitation called herself the best female flyweight boxer in the UFC.
“I didn’t take a close look for the whole division,” Cong said. “But myself, I’m very confident because I don’t care about others. I believe I’m the best.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC on ESPN 62.