UFC champ Valentina Shevchenko keeping options open for next fight, two names in particular

LAS VEGAS – UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has two names in mind for her next fight.

Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC), who notched her seventh title defense in a close decision win over Taila Santos in June at UFC 275, sees Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot as possible next opponents.

Both Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Fiorot (10-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC) are on solid winning streaks, with Fiorot unbeaten in the octagon.

“I would consider two names: It’s Alexa Grasso and Fiorot,” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie on the World MMA Awards red carpet. “These are two challengers that are extremely good and ready for this title test. I think any of them.”

The other option out there for Shevchenko is a trilogy bout with featherweight and bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, who holds two wins over her – one by split decision at UFC 215, which Shevchenko thought she won.

“There is interest always, and I’m actually ready for that, because it’s a fight that makes sense,” Shevchenko said of a Nunes trilogy. “But yeah, let’s see how everything plays out, because I think any bright names, any superfights would be good.”

Superfights could also mean challengers coming for Shevchenko’s title as strawweight champion Zhang Weili said she’d love to face “The Bullet,” who’s also open for that challenge.

“Definitely it’s one of the options that can happen,” Shevchenko said. “I saw her recent fights. She got stronger, more tactical, but if a fight is gonna happen, it’s not gonna help her.”