Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko is a decorated professional mixed martial artist, Muay Thai fighter, and kickboxer, known for her dominance in the UFC Flyweight division. After securing eight gold medals at the IFMA World Championships between 2003 and 2014, Valentina Shevchenko established herself as one of the most decorated combat sports athletes globally. Across K-1, Muay Thai, and kickboxing disciplines from 2003 to 2015, she amassed over 90 amateur and professional victories, further highlighted by her triumph at the IMFA Royal World Cup in 2015. During this period, Shevchenko notably defeated future UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna J?drzejczyk three times.

Her professional MMA career began with a TKO victory in 2003, followed by a return to the sport in 2010 after a dedicated focus on striking, including winning the WAKO World Kickboxing Champion title in 2004. Shevchenko transitioned to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 2015, making a successful debut against Sarah Kaufman. She quickly ascended the ranks, securing significant victories over top contenders, including Holly Holm in 2016 and Julianna Peña via armbar submission in 2017, which also earned her a Performance of the Night bonus. In 2018, Shevchenko moved to the Flyweight division, where she claimed the vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship at UFC 231, defeating Joanna J?drzejczyk for the fourth time.

In 2024, Valentina Shevchenko made history at UFC 306 by reclaiming the UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship from Alexa Grasso, becoming the first and only two-time champion in the division’s history. Beyond her fighting career, Shevchenko expanded her presence into film, starring in the Netflix film ‘Bruised’ in 2020. Looking ahead, she is scheduled to defend her title against Manon Fiorot in 2025 and will face Zhang Weili in November 2025, further cementing her status as a global icon in combat sports and entertainment.