SINGAPORE – Ever since moving down to flyweight, UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko has run through the competition, meaning it might be time for something new.
Or, in this case, something old again.
Shevchenko is looking to make history Saturday when she meets Taila Santos in the UFC 275 co-main event. A victory would mark seven consecutive title defenses for Shevchenko to pass Hall of Famer Ronda Rousey and give her the record for a female UFC fighter.
At that point, would Shevchenko have anything left to prove at 125 pounds where she’s 8-0 since 2018? Not really.
And so Shevchenko heads into UFC 275 looking to beat Santos – who’s on a four-fight winning streak – and keep an open mind afterward.
“Every possibility is still there,” Shevchenko said during UFC 275 media day. “Maybe bantamweight, but still a lot of new contenders rising into my division. Any of those two options would work for me.”
Even if both work, one feels like the preferred option: a move back to bantamweight for an immediate title shot.
Winning UFC gold at 135 pounds would be redemption for Shevchenko, who came up just short against then-champ Amanda Nunes by split decision in September 2017. The fight, which was her second overall loss to Nunes, was her last as a bantamweight.
Fast forward almost five years, and Nunes is no longer UFC bantamweight champion after being choked out by Julianna Pena last December in the Upset of the Year at UFC 269. Peña and Nunes are set for a rematch July 30 at UFC 277.
Considering Shevchenko’s history with both women (also a submission of Peña in January 2017), she has no problem fighting either one should she emerge victorious at UFC 275.
“I think it’s mostly because people want it, and it was discussion through the years,” Shevchenko said. “Our trilogy with Amanda, and now people are speaking about Julianna. No matter what the outcome is gonna be in their fight in July, either works for me. It will be an interesting fight against Amanda, and we have history with Julianna because a few years ago I submitted her. And so either option is gonna work for me.”
Julianna Peña or Amanda Nunes? ‘Either option is gonna work’ for Valentina Shevchenko after UFC 275