Valentina Shevchenko On Nicco Montano’s Illness: “She Wanted To Escape”

The UFC 228 co-main event was officially canceled yesterday when flyweight champion Nicco Montano was rushed to the hospital right before weigh-ins. Her training partner Steve Hanna commented to the media saying that it was due to poor kidney function and that the UFC medical team instructed her to cease cutting weight.
Her opponent for Saturday, Valentina Shevchenko is not too pleased as this is now the second time in a little over a year that she’s lost a title opportunity because of her opponents health. (At UFC 213 she was scheduled to fight Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight championship but Nunes pulled out with sinusitis on the morning of the event.) Shevchenko posted on Instagram to voice her displeasure.

I am not surprised about this situation with Nicco. And I told it before, she can pull out from the fight at anytime. She was trying to avoid this fight several times already. It is my 3rd preparation for this fight. Looks like It was her plan from the beginning, to show up for the fight week , to build up her name, speak confident and secure, and then escape from the fight in the last minutes. She was speaking about Fighting spirit and character….What kind of fighting spirit she is talking about? I don’t believe in a version about health issues, she was looking totally fine in open work out and media day. Her actions are totally unprofessional! First of all I am very sorry for all my fans who came to support me! I am very upset about all this happening. I was preparing for this fight hard and serious. My plan was to leave Dallas with the belt. I will keep moving forward. And will seize the next opportunity to take what is mine. Thank you everyone of my dear friends for your support!

Check out her post below.

Since then Montano has been stripped of her belt, and Shevchenko will be granted a future title opportunity.