Embedded! No Exceptions For Shevchenko

To watch Episode 1 of UFC 261 “Embedded” click here.

Reigning Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will return to the Octagon for a 125-pound title defense against top division contender (and former strawweight champion) Jessica Andrade as part of the UFC 261 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat. night (April 24, 2021) inside VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Shevchenko was featured prominently on Episode 2 of UFC 261 “Embedded” and gave fight fans a closer look at her training and preparations for Andrade. Not just physically, but psychologically as well, as “Bullet” makes no compromises in her camp regardless of her opponent or where the bout is taking place. Regardless, the former bantamweight is a heavy betting favorite coming into this weekend’s affair.

“What matters is my preparation, my feeling, my confidence,” Shevchenko said. “Every time is the same goal, every time is the same pressure, every time is the same hard training. No exceptions for no one.”

Shevchenko (20-3) dropped down to the flyweight class after coughing up a decision to pound-for-pound queen Amanda Nunes back in late 2017. The result was six straight wins, three nasty finishes, and one division title.

As for the hot-and-cold Andrade (21-8), who surrendered the strawweight crown to Asian sensation Weili Zhang in summer 2019, she’ll continue to ply her trade at flyweight after knocking around veteran bruiser Katlyn Chookagian last October.

UFC 261 will be headlined by the welterweight rematch between reigning 170-pound champion Kamaru Usman and veteran bruiser Jorge Masvidal. Elsewhere on the card, Andrade attempts to win her second UFC title against Shevchenko.

For the finalized UFC 261 fight card and line up click here.