This is the UFC 255 live blog for Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jennifer Maia, the flyweight title co-headliner on Saturday’s fight card at UFC APEX in Las Vegas.
Maia earned her title shot by seizing in the moment. Originally scheduled to face Viviane Araujo at UFC on ESPN 12, she instead faced Joanne Calderwood when Araujo tested positive for COVID-19. Calderwood, who previously had scheduled a title headliner against champ Valentina Shevchenko, wound up losing to Maia by submission and ceding a title opportunity. The upset win left Maia at 3-2 in the octagon before the biggest fight of her career – and a much-needed boost after two straight misses on the scale.