Shevchenko was born in Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union on March 7, 1988, to a Russian-Ukrainian family of military serviceman,[14][15] but she has described herself as being Russian[note 1] in a Russian interview and her native language is Russian.[16] Her family had Soviet, and later Kyrgyzstan citizenship.[17] Her mother Elena Shevchenko is the president of Kyrgyzstan's national Muay Thai association and a former multiple-time Muay Thai champion.[18][9] Her father Anatoly Shevchenko served in the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy for three years during the Cold War, and played for the Kyrgyzstan national football team.[19][20]
After becoming interested in combat sports at an early age, Valentina began Taekwondo at age 5, under the influence of her older sister Antonina and her mother, who both participated in the sport.[21] At age 12 she branched out into Muay Thai kickboxing and then freestyle Vale Tudo. Her kickboxing career began in 2000 when, also at age 12, she knocked out a 22-year-old opponent, earning her the moniker "Bullet" from her trainer Pavel Fedotov because of her speed in the ring.[6][22][23] She traveled to Peru with Fedotov and Antonina in 2007, where they became martial arts teachers, and Fedotov eventually relocated his team there permanently. She gained Peruvian citizenship in 2008[9] and is fluent in Russian, English, and Spanish.[24]
Shevchenko earned an undergraduate degree in Film Directing from the National Academy of Arts of the Kyrgyz Republic.[25] In December 2021, the university awarded her the title of an Honored Professor.[26]
In April 2019, she was awarded by Kyrgyz President Sooronbay Jeenbekov with the Dank Order.[27][28] She 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".[29] Valentina and Antonina made UFC history by becoming the first pair of sisters to feature on the same fight card at UFC 255.[30]
Muay Thai and kickboxing career
Valentina Shevchenko at Kunlun Fight in China, 2014
From 2003 to 2015, Shevchenko collectively won more than 90 amateur/pro matches in K-1, Muay Thai and kickboxing (eight were won by technical knockout, two by knockout). She received her first loss in kickboxing when she fought Debby Urkens (WFCA) in 2008 and her second one against Cong Wang in 2015.[31] Shevchenko won 8 gold medals (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014) when she competed in the IFMA world championships, as well as the IMFA Royal World Cup in 2015. During these competitions, Shevchenko defeated future UFC Women's Strawweight ChampionJoanna Jędrzejczyk three times and future UFC fighter Lina Länsberg once. Shevchenko is considered to be one of the best female Muay Thai fighters in the world.[32][33]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
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. She won the fight via TKO in the second round.
Competing in regional Kyrgiz, Russian and Korean promotions she went undefeated in her next 6 fights, winning all of them via a first-round finish, before deciding to take a hiatus from MMA in 2006 to focus on her Muay Thai and kickboxing career.[34]
She 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. Despite dominating her opponent for the majority of the first round, Shevchenko suffered her first loss after a controversial doctor stoppage due to a large cut caused by an illegal upkick. The referee decided not to call foul, which would result in a disqualification win for Shevchenko, and the fight was instead waved off by the doctor and ruled as a TKO win for Carmouche.[35][36] After successfully rebounding from her loss in the following year by defeating Akjarkyn Baiturbaeva via unanimous decision and earning the first decision win of her career in the process, Shevchenko took another break from the sport, during which she continued to compete in amateur Muay Thai bouts.
She 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. With these victories, she improved her professional record to 10–1.[34]
Legacy Fighting Championship
In 2014, it was announced that Legacy FC had signed Shevchenko for MMA and kickboxing.[37] She faced Jan Finney on February 27, 2015, at Legacy Fighting Championship 39, winning the fight via unanimous decision (30–27, 30–27, and 30–27).[38]
In her second fight for the promotion, Shevchenko faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016. Although she made an impressive and strong performance in the third round, her slow start in the first two gave the rounds to Nunes. She lost the fight by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–27, and 29–27).[41]
Shevchenko faced Julianna Peña in a possible title eliminator match in the main event at UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña on January 28, 2017.[43] She won the fight by armbar submission in the second round. The win also earned Shevchenko her first Performance of the Night bonus.[44]
UFC Bantamweight title fight
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. The doctors cleared Nunes to fight, but she didn't feel up to it, so the fight was called off.[45] Joanna Jędrzejczyk offered to replace Nunes, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission could not clear her on such short notice.[46]
The rematch against Nunes was rescheduled to UFC 215 on September 9, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. After a very close back-and-forth fight, Shevchenko lost the fight via split decision (48–47, 48–47, and 47–48). In the post-fight press conference, she voiced her disagreement with the judges' decision but also said she respected the outcome.[47] Out of 22 media outlets, 10 scored it for Nunes, 10 for Shevchenko, and 2 scored it a draw.[48]
Flyweight division
In September 2017, Shevchenko revealed plans to join the 125-pound flyweight division.[49]
Shevchenko faced promotional newcomer Priscila Cachoeira on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125. She won the fight in an extremely dominant fashion and via rear-naked choke in round two, outstriking her opponent 230–3. This win earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.[50]
Shevchenko was scheduled to face champion Nicco Montaño on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Montano was transported to a hospital due to the effects of weight cutting. The bout was canceled and Montano was stripped of the Women's Flyweight title.[51] UFC officials then announced that Shevchenko would fight for the vacant 125-pound flyweight title later in 2018.[52]
In the first defense of her UFC flyweight title, Shevchenko faced Jessica Eye in the co-main event at UFC 238 on June 8, 2019,[58] She successfully defended her title, winning via a head kick knockout in the second round.[59] This win earned her the Performance of the Night award.[60]
Shevchenko faced Liz Carmouche on August 10, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 156.[61] The pairing met previously under a regional promotion banner in 2010 with Carmouche winning the bout in the second round after the doctor stopped the bout due to a large cut stemming from an upkick.[62] Shevchenko won the rematch via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, and 50–45).[63]
Shevchenko defended her Flyweight title for the third time against Katlyn Chookagian on February 8, 2020 at UFC 247.[64] She won the fight via TKO in the third round.[65]
Shevchenko was scheduled to face Joanne Calderwood on June 6, 2020 at UFC 250.[66] However, Shevchenko pulled out of the fight citing a leg injury.[67]
In the fourth defense of her title, Shevchenko faced Jennifer Maia on November 21, 2020 at UFC 255.[68] She won the fight via unanimous decision (49–46, 49–46, and 49–46).[69]
In her fifth title defense, Shevchenko faced former UFC Women's Strawweight champion Jéssica Andrade on April 24, 2021 at UFC 261.[70] After dominating Andrade for most of the bout, Shevchenko won via TKO in round two.[71]
Shevchenko faced Lauren Murphy on September 25, 2021 at UFC 266.[72] She won the fight via technical knockout in round four, defending her title for the sixth time.[73]
Shevchenko faced Taila Santos on June 12, 2022, at UFC 275.[74] She won the close bout via split decision (49–46, 48–47, and 47–48).[75] This fight earned her the Crypto.com"Fan Bonus of the Night" awards paid in bitcoin of US$30,000 for first place.[76]
Shevchenko faced Alexa Grasso on March 4, 2023 at UFC 285.[77] In a surprise upset, she lost the bout and title via a face crank in the fourth round. The defeat marked her first career loss at Flyweight, her first non-decision loss in the UFC and the first time she had been submitted in her MMA career.[78]
Shevchenko faced Alexa Grasso in a rematch for the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on September 16, 2023 at UFC Fight Night 227.[79] The match ended in a split draw.[80] The decision was controversial as one of the three judges scored 10-8 for Alexa Grasso in the last round, but Valentina argued her dominance in the round relating to the new scoring system in UFC. If the judge would have scored the fifth and final round in Valentina's favor, she would have won the fight and consequently the title.[81]
Professional boxing career
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. She won the fight by unanimous decision. 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.[82]
The following year, it was announced that Shevchenko will be fighting the boxing champion Melissa Hernandez for her WIBA Lightweight belt. This announcement was met with much criticism from boxing pundits and other boxers alike, as Shevchenko was an unranked fighter with only one professional boxing match on her record at the time of the announcement. After allegedly being threatened to be stripped of her title for refusing to defend it against Shevchenko, Hernandez vacated the belt in November, commenting that Shevchenko fighting for a world title is like "a slap in the face" and that "it's time someone stands up for women's boxing". Lightweight fighter and multiple-time boxing champion Ann Saccurato stepped in to fight Shevchenko for the vacated WIBA title, but the event was eventually canceled.[83]
On December 17, 2011, Shevchenko faced Nerys Rincon at Pueblo Libra Reserclub in Lima, Peru. She won via TKO in the fourth round after sending her opponent to the canvas several times in the third round. Like in her professional debut, she largely fought in a kickboxing stance and frequently used Muay Thai grappling, which Rincon unsuccessfully protested on many occasions during the match.[82]
It was announced that Shevchenko would face a decorated boxer Mary McGee for the vacant WIBA Lightweight championship title on January 14, 2012, in Lima, Peru. However, Shevchenko withdrew from the match for an undisclosed reason later that month and was replaced by Duda Yankovich.[84][85]
Fighting style
A decorated kickboxer, Shevchenko is primarily known for precise counter-striking.[86] She is recognized for her exceptional ability to gauge the distance of an opponent's attack, then retaliate with a variety of counterattacks.[86][87] In a 2017 interview, Shevchenko noted the challenges of perfecting this technique in mixed martial arts: "It's different to fight a wrestler and stand-up fighter. To feel the distance of her punch, it's different."[88]
After dodging an opponent's strike, Shevchenko will often counter with a fast right hook, a spinning wheel kick, or a spinning back fist. On offense, she makes regular use of forwarding right hooks and two-punch combinations. She also utilizes an outside leg kick, regularly thrown at the end of a flurry, or in the early stages of a round.[86][87][89]
In addition to her striking, Shevchenko is also a highly skilled grappler and has a black belt in Judo, as demonstrated by her multiple take-downs against Holly Holm and Jéssica Andrade, her armbar submission of Julianna Peña, and her rear-naked choke submission over Priscila Cachoeira.[44][90]
Other ventures
In 2013, Shevchenko was a contestant on the fourth season of the Peruvian dance and competition reality show Combate broadcast by ATV. She placed first in the competition together with her dance partner, South American reality television star Alejandro “Zumba” Benitez.[91] In one of the episodes, she took part in an exhibition wrestling match against Peruvian professional middleweight boxer David Zegarra, which she won by submission in less than a minute.[92]
In 2015, Shevchenko was elected into the IFMA executive board as a representative of the organization's athletic commission.[93] She was also 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. The project won the Muaythai Spirit of Sport Award in 2014.[94]
Shevchenko has been regularly competing in the IPSC, IDPA, and 3-Gun pistol shooting competitions since 2010. She began her firearms training in 2006 under the guidance of her coach Pavel Fedotov, a veteran of the Soviet army.[95]
Shevchenko appears in the Netflix sports film Bruised starring Halle Berry,[100] 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.[101]
Together with Berry, Shevchenko was featured on the digital cover of the December 2021 issue for Women's Health magazine.[102]
^"MMA star Valentina Shevchenko checks out first NASCAR race". USA Today. May 12, 2018. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2020. Shevchenko was born into a Ukrainian family in the former Soviet Union, and began learning martial arts when she was 5.
^"Valentina Shevchenko: 5 Things To KnowAbout Shocking Winner Of UFC's Fox 23". Hollywood Life. January 29, 2017. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved August 13, 2020. Shevchenko is one of the most famous Ukrainian last names, but her family was forced to flee the-then USSR state during Stalin's Communist rule. Ukraine is now an independent country in its own right.
^"MMABoxing.ru" [1], September 10 2018. Retrieved on August 8 2020.
^MMA Fighting Newswire (December 9, 2022). "2022 World MMA Awards Results". mmafighting.com. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 17, 2022.
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