52 Facts About Valentina Shevchenko

Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko is a Kyrgyzstani and Peruvian professional mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter.

Valentina Shevchenko currently competes in the women's Flyweight division for the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where she is the former UFC Women's Flyweight Champion.

Valentina Shevchenko traveled to Peru with Fedotov and Antonina in 2007, where they became martial arts teachers, and Fedotov eventually relocated his team there permanently.

Valentina Shevchenko gained Peruvian citizenship in 2008 and is fluent in Russian, English, and Spanish.

Valentina Shevchenko earned an undergraduate degree in Film Directing from the National Academy of Arts of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Valentina Shevchenko was awarded during her first visit to Kyrgyzstan in seven years, during which Jeenbekov praised Shevchenko's role in her profession, saying that she "defended the honour of our Kyrgyzstan".

Valentina Shevchenko received her first loss in kickboxing when she fought Debby Urkens in 2008 and her second one against Cong Wang in 2015.

Valentina Shevchenko won 8 gold medals when she competed in the IFMA world championships, as well as the IMFA Royal World Cup in 2015.

Valentina Shevchenko is considered to be one of the best female Muay Thai fighters in the world.

Valentina Shevchenko made her professional debut in mixed martial arts at the age of 15 on April 21,2003 at Kyrgiz Federation of Kulatuu against fellow debuting fighter Eliza Aidaralieva.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Valentina Shevchenko returned to active competition and made her US debut against a future UFC title contender Liz Carmouche on September 30,2010 at C3 Fights in Concho, Oklahoma.

Valentina Shevchenko made her return again in 2013 under the banner of a South American MMA promotion Fusion FC, where she earned two TKO wins with a turnaround of just two months between the fights.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Jan Finney on February 27,2015, at Legacy Fighting Championship 39, winning the fight via unanimous decision.

Valentina Shevchenko made her UFC debut as a short-notice replacement for Germaine de Randamie against Sarah Kaufman at UFC on Fox 17.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight via split decision.

Valentina Shevchenko lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Julianna Pena in a possible title eliminator match in the main event at UFC on Fox: Valentina Shevchenko vs Pena on January 28,2017.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight by armbar submission in the second round.

Valentina Shevchenko was expected to rematch the current women's bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes on July 8,2017, at UFC 213, but on the day of the fight, Nunes fell ill and pulled out of the fight.

In September 2017, Valentina Shevchenko revealed plans to join the 125-pound flyweight division.

Valentina Shevchenko faced promotional newcomer Priscila Cachoeira on February 3,2018, at UFC Fight Night 125.

Valentina Shevchenko was scheduled to face champion Nicco Montano on September 8,2018, at UFC 228.

UFC officials then announced that Valentina Shevchenko would fight for the vacant 125-pound flyweight title later in 2018.

Valentina Shevchenko defeated Jedrzejczyk by unanimous decision to become the new UFC Women's Flyweight Champion.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Liz Carmouche on August 10,2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 14.

Valentina Shevchenko won the rematch via unanimous decision.

Valentina Shevchenko defended her Flyweight title for the third time against Katlyn Chookagian on February 8,2020 at UFC 247.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight via TKO in the third round.

Valentina Shevchenko was scheduled to face Joanne Calderwood on June 6,2020 at UFC 250.

However, Valentina Shevchenko pulled out of the fight citing a leg injury.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight via unanimous decision.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Lauren Murphy on September 25,2021 at UFC 266.

Valentina Shevchenko won the fight via technical knockout in round four, defending her title for the sixth time.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Taila Santos on June 12,2022, at UFC 275.

Valentina Shevchenko won the close bout via split decision.

Valentina Shevchenko faced Alexa Grasso on March 4,2023 at UFC 285.

Valentina Shevchenko made her professional boxing debut on May 8,2010, at Coliseo Marotta in Callao, Peru against a more experienced Brazilian boxer Halanna dos Santos.

Valentina Shevchenko fought from a traditional kickboxing stance and used Muay Thai techniques and grappling tactics multiple times during the match, but wasn't penalized by the referee despite the numerous complaints from her opponent.

On December 17,2011, Valentina Shevchenko faced Nerys Rincon at Pueblo Libra Reserclub in Lima, Peru.

Valentina Shevchenko won via TKO in the fourth round after sending her opponent to the canvas several times in the third round.

However, Valentina Shevchenko withdrew from the match for an undisclosed reason later that month and was replaced by Duda Yankovich.

Valentina Shevchenko is recognized for her exceptional ability to gauge the distance of an opponent's attack, then retaliate with a variety of counterattacks.

Valentina Shevchenko utilizes an outside leg kick, regularly thrown at the end of a flurry, or in the early stages of a round.

In 2013, Valentina Shevchenko was a contestant on the fourth season of the Peruvian dance and competition reality show Combate broadcast by ATV.

In 2015, Valentina Shevchenko was elected into the IFMA executive board as a representative of the organization's athletic commission.

Valentina Shevchenko was an ambassador for IFMA's "Sport is Your Gang" initiative in Peru, which offered Muay Thai training to marginalized youth as a way to give them an alternative to joining a gang or participating in a violent lifestyle.

Valentina Shevchenko has been regularly competing in the IPSC, IDPA, and 3-Gun pistol shooting competitions since 2010.

Valentina Shevchenko began her firearms training in 2006 under the guidance of her coach Pavel Fedotov, a veteran of the Soviet army.

Valentina Shevchenko is featured as a playable character in the video games EA Sports UFC 2, EA Sports UFC 3, and EA Sports UFC 4.

Valentina Shevchenko appears in the Netflix sports film Bruised starring Halle Berry, in which she plays the role of Lucia "Lady Killer" Chavez, an Argentinian MMA champion and the main rival of Berry's character, Jackie Justice.

Together with Berry, Valentina Shevchenko was featured on the digital cover of the December 2021 issue for Women's Health magazine.