Valentina Shevchenko (fighter)


Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko is a Kyrgyzstani-born Peruvian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter. She competes in the women's flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she is the current Women's Flyweight champion. Shevchenko became champion at UFC 231 after defeating Joanna Jędrzejczyk, whom she also previously defeated three times in amateur Muay Thai bouts. Shevchenko is widely considered one of the best female fighters in the world. As of March 9, 2020, she is ranked #3 in UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Early life

Shevchenko was born in Frunze, Kirghizia, USSR on March 7, 1988, into a Russian family with Soviet, and later Kyrgyzstani, citizenship. After becoming interested in combat sports at an early age, she began Taekwondo at age 5, under the influence of her older sister Antonina and her mother, who both participated in the sport. At age 12 she branched out into Muay Thai kickboxing and then freestyle Vale Tudo. Her kickboxing career began in 2000 when, also at age 12, she knocked out a 22-year-old opponent, earning her the moniker "Bullet" from her trainer Pavel Fedotov because of her speed in the ring.
Shevchenko earned an undergraduate degree in Film Directing from the University of Arts Kyrgyzstan.

Muay Thai and kickboxing

From 2003 to 2015, Shevchenko collectively won more than 50 amateur/pro matches in K-1, Muay Thai and kickboxing. She received her first loss in kickboxing when she fought Debby Urkens in 2008 and her second one against Cong Wang in 2015. Shevchenko won 8 gold medals when she competed in the IFMA world championships, as well as the IMFA Royal World Cup in 2015. During these competitions, Shevchenko defeated future UFC Women's Strawweight Champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk three times and future UFC fighter Lina Länsberg once. Shevchenko is considered to be one of the best female Muay Thai fighters in the world.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Shevchenko has competed in mixed martial arts since 2003, compiling a record of 19-3.

Legacy Fighting Championship

In 2014, it was announced that Legacy FC had signed Shevchenko for MMA and kickboxing. She faced Jan Finney on February 27, 2015, at Legacy Fighting Championship 39, winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Shevchenko made her UFC debut as a short-notice replacement for Germaine de Randamie against Sarah Kaufman at UFC on Fox 17. She won the fight via split decision.
In her second fight for the promotion, Shevchenko faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016. Although she made an impressive and strong performance in the third round, her slow start in the first two gave the rounds to Nunes. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
In her third UFC fight, Shevchenko faced former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm at on July 23, 2016. After losing the first round, she rallied back to take over the fight and won a dominant unanimous decision.
Shevchenko faced Julianna Peña in a possible title eliminator match in the main event at on January 28, 2017. She won the fight by armbar submission in the second round. The win also earned Shevchenko her first Performance of the Night bonus.

UFC Bantamweight title fight

Shevchenko was expected to rematch the current women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes on July 8, 2017, at UFC 213, but on the day of the fight Nunes fell ill and pulled out of the fight. The doctors cleared Nunes to fight, but she didn't feel up to it, so the fight was called off. Joanna Jędrzejczyk offered to replace Nunes, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission could not clear her on such short notice.
The rematch against Nunes was rescheduled to UFC 215 on September 9, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. After a very close back-and-forth fight, Shevchenko lost the fight via split decision. In the post-fight press conference, she voiced her disagreement with the judges' decision but also said she respected the outcome. Out of 22 media outlets, 10 scored it for Nunes, 10 for Shevchenko, and 2 scored it a draw.

Flyweight division

In September 2017, Shevchenko revealed plans to join the 125-pound flyweight division.
Shevchenko faced promotional newcomer Priscila Cachoeira on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125. She won the fight in an extremely dominant fashion and via rear-naked choke in round two, outstriking her opponent 230-3. This win earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.
Shevchenko was scheduled to face champion Nicco Montaño on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Montano was transported to a hospital due to the effects of weight cutting. The bout was cancelled and Montano was stripped of the Women's Flyweight title. UFC officials then announced that Shevchenko would fight for the vacant 125-pound flyweight title later in 2018.

UFC Women's Flyweight Championship

On September 20, 2018, it was announced that Shevchenko would face Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who was returning to Flyweight, on December 8, 2018, at UFC 231 for the vacant UFC Women's Flyweight Championship. Due to UFC 230 being in need of a main event, Shevchenko was booked against Sijara Eubanks. Eubanks was expected to face Jessica Eye at UFC 232, before being moved to face Shevchenko. After the UFC announced a Heavyweight Championship bout between Daniel Cormier and Derrick Lewis to serve as the main event of UFC 230, UFC confirmed the bout between Shevchenko and Eubanks was canceled and that Shevchenko would return to her original bout at UFC 231 against Jędrzejczyk. Shevchenko defeated Jędrzejczyk by unanimous decision to become the new UFC Women's Flyweight Champion.
In the first defense of her UFC flyweight title, Shevchenko faced Jessica Eye in the co-main event at UFC 238 on June 8, 2019, She successfully defended her title, winning via a head kick knockout in the second round. This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.
Shevchenko faced Liz Carmouche on August 10, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 14. The pairing met previously under a regional promotion banner in 2010 with Carmouche winning the bout in the second round after the doctor stopped the bout due to a large cut stemming from an upkick. Shevchenko won the rematch via unanimous decision.
Shevchenko defended her Flyweight title for the third time against Katlyn Chookagian on February 8, 2020 at UFC 247. She won the fight via TKO in the third round.
Shevchenko was scheduled to face Joanne Calderwood on June 6, 2020 to defend the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship at then UFC 251, but on March 31, 2020, Shevchenko was forced to withdraw from the event due to a leg injury.

Fighting style

A decorated kickboxer, Shevchenko is primarily known for precise counter-striking. She is recognized for her exceptional ability to gauge the distance of an opponent's attack, then retaliate with a variety of counterattacks. In a 2017 interview, Shevchenko noted the challenges of perfecting this technique in mixed martial arts: "It's different to fight a wrestler and stand-up fighter. To feel the distance of her punch, it's different."
After dodging an opponent's strike, Shevchenko will often counter with a fast right hook, a spinning wheel kick, or a spinning back fist. On offense, she makes regular use of forward right hooks and two-punch combinations. She also utilizes an outside leg kick, regularly thrown at the end of a flurry, or in the early stages of a round.
In addition to her striking, Shevchenko is trained in grappling and has a black belt in Judo, as demonstrated by her multiple take-downs against Holly Holm, her armbar submission of Julianna Peña and her rear naked choke submission over Priscila Cachoeira.

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Professional boxing record

Professional Kickboxing and Muay Thai record