Valentina Shevchenko is a legend in the world of MMA,…
Valentina Shevchenko is a legendary name in the world of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), known for her lethal striking and dominant performances inside the octagon. Russian girl of Ukrainian origin born in Soviet Kyrgyzstan in 1988, Shevchenko has had a very long career, filled with both pain and glory.
Valya (diminutive from Valentina) began her martial arts journey at a young age, starting with taekwondo and then moving on to Muay Thai. She competed in her first professional fight at just 15 years old, and went on to win multiple world titles in kickboxing and Muay Thai before transitioning to MMA.
Shevchenko made her debut in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2015, quickly making a name for herself with her impressive striking abilities. Her first few fights were dominant wins, but her career hit a roadblock in 2016 when she lost a controversial decision to current UFC Women's Flyweight Champion, Amanda Nunes.
Despite the setback, Shevchenko continued to improve and dominate her opponents, ultimately earning a title shot against Nunes in 2017. This time, Shevchenko left no doubt in anyone's mind as to who the better fighter was, going the distance and losing a razor-thin split decision to Nunes.
Valentina continued to dominate in the flyweight division, racking up wins over some of the top contenders in the division. In 2018, she finally got her chance at redemption against Nunes, this time for the women's bantamweight title. The fight was highly anticipated, but unfortunately for Shevchenko, it was a one-sided affair, with Nunes winning a unanimous decision.
Despite the loss, Shevchenko bounced back with two dominant wins over Jessica Eye and Liz Carmouche, solidifying her position as the top contender in the flyweight division. She finally got her chance at the title in 2018, taking on Nicco Montano for the vacant women's flyweight belt. Valya put on a clinic, finishing Montano in the second round to become the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion.
Tough Russian girl has since defended her title against some of the toughest contenders in the division, including Polish star Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who she defeated by unanimous decision in 2020. Shevchenko's record in the UFC currently stands at an impressive 20-3, with 11 of those wins coming by way of knockout or submission.
But Shevchenko's success in MMA has not come without its fair share of pain. In 2020, she revealed that she had been dealing with a knee injury for over a year, and had been fighting through the pain in order to continue competing. She underwent surgery to repair the injury, but has since returned to the octagon with no signs of slowing down.
Despite the pain and setbacks, Shevchenko's career has been defined by her tenacity and skill inside the octagon. She is widely regarded as one of the top female fighters in MMA history, and continues to prove herself as a dominant force in the sport.
Alas, we all age, and Valentina is no exception. Even with her lethal striking and impressive grappling, being a true MMA legend, 34-year-old Shevchenko finally lost to Peruvian MMA fighter Alexa Grasso (15-3) at UFC 285 on Saturday, March 4.
Peruvian fighter is excited right now, and for a good reason: she feels like she 'dethroned' a legendary MMA queen...
We don't know if Valentina ever fights Nunes again or rematches Grasso... but one thing is for sure. Her legacy will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.
