Shevchenko shocks Pena with armbar in UFC Denver main event

Valentina Shevchenko proved she's far more than a one-trick pony on Saturday.

"The Bullet" stunned Julianna Pena not with her world-class Muay Thai, but with a nasty armbar to earn the finish 4:29 into the second round of the women's bantamweight main event of UFC on FOX 23 in Denver. The tapout - Shevchenko's first in more than a decade - marked the 28-year-old's second straight W and Pena's first taste of defeat in the Octagon.

The bout was expected to decide the next challenger to Amanda Nunes' strap, and Shevchenko called for her shot moments after she'd gotten her hand raised. The proclamation didn't sit well with the champ, who joined the Kyrgyzstan native in the Octagon to promise she'd beat her yet again - this time by stoppage. The pair first tangled at UFC 196, where Nunes bested Shevchenko in a sweep of the scorecards.

The sour exchange wasn't enough to keep Shevchenko from relishing in the victory, as she celebrated with an impromptu jig that nearly upstaged the submission.

The Muay Thai artist never had a chance to flaunt her vaunted striking during Saturday's tilt, as Pena imposed her will in short order, smothering Shevchenko against the cage and working her body with a steady stream of knees. The Bullet did surprise the grappler with a pair of takedowns, but failed to capitalize on her dominant position and had to stave off an armbar attempt from Pena to make it to the second horn.

The early goings of Round 2 produced more of the same, with "The Venezuelan Vixen" punishing Shevchenko from the clinch before putting her on her hind parts with a hard-fought takedown. Pena appeared poised to cruise to the end of the round from top position, that is until Shevchenko converted an ill-advised transition into the fight-ending armbar. The 27-year-old Pena's attempts to roll out of the hold proved futile, leaving her no recourse but to tap for the first time in 11 pro fights.

The UFC's first female "TUF" winner had tirelessly - and often petulantly - campaigned for a title shot prior to Saturday's bout, but will now have to eat her words after seeing a four-fight win streak snapped.

Related: MMA community reacts to Shevchenko's big win over Pena