Valentina Shevchenko
Eight-time Muay Thai world champion turned UFC flyweight queen
- Born
- March 7, 1988, Frunze (now Bishkek), Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union
- Nationality
Kyrgyzstan- Height
- 165 cm (5′5″)
- Reach
- 169 cm (5′7″)
- Stance
- Southpaw
- Style
- Precision counter-striker
- Weight
- Flyweight, Bantamweight
- Active
- 2003–present
- Status
- Active · age 38
The record
Professional MMA; her Muay Thai and kickboxing record is separate. Reigning UFC women's flyweight champion; withdrew injured from a bout with Natália Silva set for October 2026.
The story
alentina Shevchenko, born in Frunze, now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, won eight IFMA Muay Thai world championship golds before building an MMA career on precise counter-striking. She lost twice to Amanda Nunes at bantamweight, then moved to flyweight and won the vacant UFC title over Joanna Jędrzejczyk in 2018. Seven defenses followed before Alexa Grasso submitted her in 2023. She beat Grasso in 2024 to become the first two-time UFC women's flyweight champion, then defended against Manon Fiorot and Zhang Weili in 2025, bringing her total to nine defenses. Her game is built on reading attacks: she steps out of range and counters with hooks, spinning kicks or a spinning back fist, and uses her judo black belt when opponents close the distance.
Tap a technique with an arrow to learn how it works.
- UFC women's flyweight champion (2 reigns, 9 successful defenses)
- IFMA Muay Thai world champion (8 gold medals, 2003–2014)
- WMC Muay Thai world champion (2012)
- Female Fighter of the Year 2025 (ESPN, MMA Junkie and others)
- World MMA Awards Female Fighter of the Year (2022)
- Female Fighter of the Year 2020 (ESPN and others)
Defining fights
- 2018WINvs Joanna Jędrzejczyk (UD, won vacant UFC flyweight title)
- 2019WINvs Jessica Eye (head kick KO R2)
- 2023LOSSvs Alexa Grasso (face crank R4, lost title)
- 2024WINvs Alexa Grasso (UD, regained title)
- 2025WINvs Zhang Weili (UD, title defense)
Let the opponent reach, step just out of range and counter as their strike falls short. Muay Thai and kickboxing students can drill pull-counter hooks and a spinning back fist off a missed jab, and grapplers can add her judo trips from the clinch.
