Fight Coverage
In Review: Valentina Shevchenko's Dominant Run As The Flyweight Champion
During Valentina Shevchenko's Run As Champion, She Has Barely Faced Any Adversity Heading Into UFC 266
As Valentina Shevchenko prepares to defend her UFC flyweight title yet again, this time against Lauren Murphy at UFC 266: Volkanovski vs Ortega, in what will be her eighth-career title fight, we break down the dominant reign of the second-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC.
UFC 231 vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk
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In her second fight at flyweight after challenging Amanda Nunes for the UFC bantamweight title, Shevchenko faced off against former UFC strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk, who was returning to 125 pounds to challenge for the vacant UFC flyweight title.
Scoring 49-46s across the board in her unanimous decision victory, Shevchenko’s reign began on December 8, 2018, with a dominant victory over one of the most powerful strawweights in UFC history.
Watch Shevchenko vs Jędrzejczyk on UFC Fight Pass
UFC 238 vs Jessica Eye
The 𝒮𝐼𝒢𝒩𝒜𝒯𝒰𝑅𝐸 finish of @BulletValentina's title reign. 🦵
— UFC (@ufc) September 22, 2021
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Shevchenko made her first title defense against Jessica Eye exactly six months after claiming the title at UFC 238 on June 8, 2019. A textbook head kick landed early in the second round and earned Shevchenko her first title defense, sixth professional victory by knockout and a Performance of the Night bonus in Chicago.
UFC Fight Night vs Liz Carmouche
Next up for Shevchenko, just two months later, was a rematch nearly a decade in the making against Liz Carmouche. This time in a new promotion with much higher stakes, Shevchenko avenged her 2010 doctor’s stoppage loss after a unanimous decision victory in Montevideo, Uruguay, and did so in a characteristically dominant fashion, boasting 50-45s from all judges.
UFC 247 vs Katlyn Chookagian
While Katlyn Chookagian rivals Shevchenko with the most wins in the UFC flyweight division — both women are tied at seven — their matchup at UFC 247 made it through two full rounds before “Bullet” ended the fight via TKO by elbows and punches.
Relive UFC 247 on UFC Fight Pass
In doing so, Shevchenko earned her third UFC flyweight title defense on February 8, 2020.
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UFC 255 vs Jennifer Maia
After being scheduled to face Joanne Calderwood in her fourth title defense at UFC 250, Shevchenko was pulled from the fight due to an injury. Instead, she faced Jennifer Maia on November 21, 2020, at UFC 255, scoring 49-46s across the board in her unanimous decision victory.
UFC 261 vs Jéssica Andrade
On April 24, 2021, Shevchenko made her fifth successful title defense, tying both Amanda Nunes and Joanna Jędrzejczyk for most title defenses, and sitting just one defense behind the all-time women’s UFC record of six defenses, set by Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey.
Rewatch Shevchenko's Fifth Title Defense on UFC Fight Pass
Shevchenko once again asserted her dominance over yet another formidable opponent, defeating Jéssica Andrade by second-round TKO. In doing so, Shevchenko earned her third victory over a former UFC champion.
