Shevchenko hints at future options after her 10th title fight win.
Valentina Shevchenko retained her flyweight title in her second reign with a dominant unanimous decision win over Manon Fiorot at UFC 315. But when it came to naming her next opponent, the former pound-for-pound queen offered a playful yet diplomatic answer.
At the post-fight press conference, Shevchenko told reporters, “Maybe fans can play some role in that, and if they can join my OnlyFans page and drop some messages on who they want to see me fight next.” The unexpected plug aside, her comment hinted at her openness to multiple potential challengers.
Two names loom large: current strawweight champion Zhang Weili and rising flyweight contender Natalia Silva. Both women were already generating buzz before UFC 315, with Silva knocking off former champ Alexa Grasso on the same card and Weili defending her title at UFC 312 against Tatiana Suarez.
Interestingly, Zhang revealed before UFC 312 that she had been in discussions with the UFC to move up and fight Shevchenko after UFC Noche last year. However, those talks fell through. “It’s out of my control,” Weili admitted, adding that the negotiations simply stalled.
Shevchenko, for her part, appeared neutral on next steps. She explained, “After the fight, you get the victory, the belt is with you, and you still have adrenaline running… to answer the exact question, I would prefer to take it with one or two days when I will rest.“
Further, Shevchenko, 37, made it clear she’s not considering retirement at the moment. Leading up to UFC 315, there was promotional chatter that either she or Fiorot might hang up the gloves depending on the outcome. And, a retirement wager took place, for real. But Shevchenko was quick to shoot down that speculation post-fight, saying, “Just because someone put [the words] in her mouth to promote the fight… now she feels she has to retire? No, don’t follow your words, please stay fighting.”
Widely regarded as the greatest women’s flyweight champion in UFC history, Shevchenko has defended her title eight times and reclaimed it after briefly losing it to Alexa Grasso in 2023. With a 25-4-1 MMA record and a championship legacy across two divisions, “Bullet” isn’t done yet. As contenders line up and fan campaigns begin, all eyes are now on the UFC to decide who Shevchenko shares the Octagon with next.
Read More: Valentina Shevchenko Makes UFC Title Defense History, Defeats French Manon Fiorot!
