Valentina Shevchenko is a highly accomplished Kyrgyzstani professional mixed martial artist, widely recognized as one of the most dominant fighters in UFC history.
Born on March 7, 1988, in Frunze (now Bishkek), Kyrgyz SSR, Soviet Union, to a family of Russian-Ukrainian descent with a military background, she has built an extraordinary career across multiple combat sports.
Nicknamed “Bullet” for her precise and explosive striking, Shevchenko began training in Taekwondo at age five, influenced by her mother Elena Shevchenko, a former multiple-time Muay Thai champion and president of Kyrgyzstan’s Muay Thai federation, as well as her older sister.
She later excelled in Muay Thai, securing numerous world titles, before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
Shevchenko is a two-time UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion, known for her technical mastery in striking, grappling, and overall fight IQ.
Siblings
Valentina has one sibling, her older sister Antonina Shevchenko, born on November 20, 1984.
Antonina is a decorated combat sports athlete in her own right, having achieved multiple world championships in Muay Thai and K-1 before transitioning to mixed martial arts.
She competed in the UFC flyweight division from 2018 to around 2023, compiling a 4-4 professional record with notable fights, including making history alongside Valentina as the first pair of sisters to appear on the same UFC card at UFC 255 in 2020.
Career
Shevchenko’s professional mixed martial arts journey has spanned over two decades, marked by dominance in striking-based disciplines before her UFC success.
She made her pro MMA debut in 2003 but focused heavily on Muay Thai and kickboxing early on, amassing an impressive resume with multiple world titles.
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After relocating and training in Peru and Thailand, she entered the UFC in December 2015 with a unanimous decision win over Jan Finney.
Initially competing at bantamweight, she faced top contenders like Amanda Nunes in a title fight loss but moved to flyweight, where she thrived.
Shevchenko captured the inaugural UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship in December 2018 by defeating Joanna Jędrzejczyk via unanimous decision at UFC 231.
She defended the title seven consecutive times against elite opponents including Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, Jéssica Andrade, Lauren Murphy, and Taila Santos, showcasing her precision striking and grappling prowess.
After a split draw and subsequent loss to Alexa Grasso in 2023, which cost her the belt, Shevchenko regained the title and has continued her reign with successful defenses, including against Manon Fiorot in May 2025 and Zhang Weili in November 2025.
Her professional MMA record stands at 26 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, with 8 knockouts, 7 submissions, and 11 decisions, reflecting her well-rounded skill set and ability to adapt across weight classes and eras.
Accolades
Shevchenko is a two-time UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion, holding the title with nine successful defenses overall (seven in her first reign and two in her second as of late 2025), marking the most combined title defenses by a woman in UFC history.
She holds numerous UFC women’s flyweight records, including the most wins (12 or more depending on updates), most title fight wins (11), most consecutive title defenses (7), most knockouts (4), most strikes landed, and most takedowns.
She is the first Kyrgyzstani fighter to win a UFC championship and has tied for the most title fight wins in UFC women’s history.
Her dominance earned her recognition as a top pound-for-pound fighter, with accolades such as Female Fighter of the Year honors from various outlets and consistent high rankings.
Beyond the octagon, her Muay Thai background includes over a dozen world championships.
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