#1 UFC women’s bantamweight contender Valentina Shevchenko charmed the internet Saturday night, by laughing in division champion Amanda Nunes’s face, before breaking into an impromptu dance.
Shevchenko turning her victory dance game up to ELEVEN. Congrats @BulletValentina! https://t.co/0bu4spAj0W
— FOX Sports: UFC (@UFCONFOX) January 29, 2017
Shevchenko is an ethnic Russian, born and raised in the Central Asian nation of Kyrgyzstan. The Lezginka is a widespread dance in the Caucasus. The dance, which is typically done by men or in mixed pairs, follows the form of an eagle for men, and a swan for women.
Musician, philanthropist, environmentalist, animal rights activist, producer, writer, reserve deputy sheriff, 7th-dan in Aikido, Father of the Front Kick, father to sons Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, and somewhat boyishly handsome action film star Steven Seagal did an interesting version of it that went viral.
O’Sensei’s interpretation channeled not the eagle or the swan, but rather, the toad.
A rather more authentic version was performed by Azerbaijani Greco-Roman wrestler Rasul Chunayev after winning gold at the 2013 Summer Universiade in Kazan, Tatarstan, Russia.
Shevchenko has long incorporated dance into her fights, and enjoys it as well as a separate pursuit. Indeed, it is her second passion.
Here she performs in a dance contest in her second home of Peru on the reality show Combate. She did the Merengue and the Cha Cha and a lot in between.
She dances by the sea …
… in the gym …
… and in the backyard …
Here she performs the Yablochko is a Russian folk dance, traditionally presented as sailors’ dance.
Her inspiration does not come only from the Caucasus and Spain, but the Middle East as well.
And the Romani (Gypsy).
And sometimes, like they did in the post-fight interview Saturday night, or below, her passions combine.
The Master of Sports in Boxing, Kickboxing, Taekwondo, and Judo speaks fluent Russian, English, and Spanish. And she loves firearms, but that is another story.
H/T sgotwalks
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