Valentina Shevchenko
Valentina Shevchenko | |
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Born | Valentina Anatolievna Shevchenko March 7, 1988 Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (today Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) |
Native name | Валентина Шевченко |
Other names | Bullet[1] |
Nationality | Kyrgyz (former Soviet) |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) |
Weight | 135 lb (61 kg; 9.6 st) |
Division | Bantamweight (MMA) Flyweight (MMA) Lightweight (Kickboxing) |
Reach | 67.0 in (170 cm) |
Style | Muay Thai, Kickboxing, Boxing, Taekwondo, Judo |
Stance | Southpaw |
Team | Tiger Muay Thai[2] Gracie Barra Texas [3] |
Trainer | Pavel Fedotov |
Rank | 2nd dan black belt in Taekwondo[4] International Master of Sports in Muay Thai[4] Master of Sports in Boxing[4] Master of Sports in Kickboxing[4] Master of Sports in Taekwondo[4] Black belt[5] & Master of Sports in Judo[4] |
Years active | 2000[6]–present |
Professional boxing record | |
Total | 2 |
Wins | 2 |
Kickboxing record | |
Total | 58 |
Wins | 56 |
By knockout | 4 |
Losses | 2 |
Draws | 0 |
Mixed martial arts record | |
Total | 17 |
Wins | 14 |
By knockout | 4 |
By submission | 6 |
By decision | 4 |
Losses | 3 |
By knockout | 1 |
By decision | 2 |
Other information | |
University | University of Arts Kyrgystan[4] |
Notable relatives | Antonina Shevchenko |
Boxing record from BoxRec | |
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog |
Valentina Shevchenko (Russian: Валентина Анатольевна Шевченко; born March 7, 1988) is a Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian mixed martial artist and former Muay Thai fighter who competes in the women's bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Early life
Valentina Shevchenko was born in Frunze, Kirghizia, USSR on March 7, 1988 into a Russian family, and became interested in combat sports at an early age. She began with taekwondo at age 5, under the influence of her mother who had practiced the sport and of her older sister Antonina.[7] At age 12 she branched out into Muay Thai kickboxing then free style Vale Tudo. Her kickboxing career began in Kyrgyzstan when 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][8][9]
Muay Thai and kickboxing
From 2003 to 2015 Valentina Shevchenko collectively won more than 50 amateur/pro matches in K-1, Muay Thai, and kickboxing (five were won by technical knockout, three were won by knockout). She received her first and only loss in kickboxing when she fought Wang Cong (aka Cong Wang) in 2015.[10] Shevchenko won gold when she competed in the IFMA championships, she defeated Joanna Jędrzejczyk three times during these competitions. Shevchenko is considered to be one of the best female Muay Thai fighters in the world.[11][12]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Valentina Shevchenko has competed in mixed martial arts since 2003 compiling a record of 14-3.
Legacy Fighting Championship
In 2014 it was announced that Legacy FC had signed Shevchenko for MMA and kickboxing.[13] On February 27, 2015, Shevchenko faced Jan Finney at Legacy Fighting Championship 39, winning the fight via unanimous decision.[14]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Shevchenko made her UFC debut as a short-notice replacement for Germaine de Randamie against Sarah Kaufman at UFC on Fox 17.[15] She won the fight via split decision.[16][17]
In her second fight for the promotion, Shevchenko faced Amanda Nunes on March 5, 2016, at UFC 196. 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.[18]
In her third fight for the promotion, Shevchenko faced former UFC Women's Bantamweight Champion Holly Holm at UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko on July 23, 2016. After losing the first round to Holm, she rallied back to take over the fight and won a dominant unanimous decision.[19]
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. She won the fight by armbar in the second round. The win also earned Shevchenko her first Performance of the Night bonus.[20]
UFC Bantamweight Title Fight
Shevchenko was expected to rematch the current 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.[21] Joanna Jędrzejczyk offered to replace Nunes, but the Nevada State Athletic Commission could not clear her on such a short notice.[22]
The rematch against Nunes was rescheduled to UFC 215 on September 9, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta.[23] After a very close back-and-forth fight, Shevchenko lost the fight via split decision.[24] In the post-fight press conference, she voiced her disagreement with the judges' decision but also said she respected the outcome.[25]
Flyweight Division
Beginning September 2017, Shevchenko planned to drop 10 lbs down to 125 lbs for her next bout in the newly minted flyweight division.[26]
Fighting style
A decorated kickboxer, Shevchenko is primarily known for precise counter-striking.[27] She is recognized for an exceptional ability to gauge the distance of an opponent's attack, then retaliate with a variety of counterattacks.[27][28] 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", she said.[29]
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 forward 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.[27][28][30]
In addition to her striking, Shevchenko is trained in grappling and jiu-jitsu, as demonstrated by her multiple take-downs against Holly Holm, and her armbar submission of Julianna Pena.[20][31]
Championships and accomplishments
Kickboxing
- Kunlun Fight Women's Lightweight Championship (1 Title Defense)
- 2014 Kunlun Fight Female -60kg Tournament Champion
- 2013 World K-1 Champion WKC, Peru
(60 kg)
- 2013 World K-1 Champion WKC, Mexico
(60 kg)
- 2006 World Muay Thai WMF Champion, Thailand
(57 kg)
- 2005 World Champion KF-1 MMA Pro, Korea, Seoul
(57 kg)
- 2004 World Kickboxing Champion WAKO, Italy
(56кg)
- 2003 World Champion KF-1 MMA Pro, Korea, Seoul
(55 kg)
Muay Thai
- 2015 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(60 kg)
- 2014 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(60 kg)
- 2013 World Combat Games, Muay Thai Gold Medalist
(60 kg)
- 2012 WMC Muaythai Female Super Lightweight World Champion[32]
- 2012 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(60 kg)
- 2010 World Combat Games, Muay Thai Gold Medalist
(60 kg)
- 2010 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(63.5 kg)
- 2009 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(60 kg)
- 2008 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(57 kg)
- 2007 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(57 kg)
- 2006 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(57 kg)
- 2003 I.F.M.A. Royal World cup Tournament Championships
(57 kg)
Mixed martial arts
Professional boxing record
K-1, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai record (Incomplete)
K-1, Kickboxing, and Muay Thai record | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Legend: Win Loss Draw/No contest Notes |
Mixed martial arts record
17 matches | 14 wins | 3 losses |
By knockout | 4 | 1 |
By submission | 6 | 0 |
By decision | 4 | 2 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 14–3 | Amanda Nunes | Decision (split) | UFC 215 | September 9, 2017 | 5 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | For the UFC Women's Bantamweight Championship. |
Win | 14–2 | Julianna Peña | Submission (armbar) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 2 | 4:29 | Denver, Colorado, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Win | 13–2 | Holly Holm | Decision (unanimous) | UFC on Fox: Holm vs. Shevchenko | July 23, 2016 | 5 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
Loss | 12–2 | Amanda Nunes | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 196 | March 5, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 12–1 | Sarah Kaufman | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: dos Anjos vs. Cerrone 2 | December 19, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Orlando, Florida, United States | |
Win | 11–1 | Jan Finney | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 39 | February 27, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas United States | |
Win | 10–1 | Hellen Bastos | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Fusion FC 6 | February 26, 2014 | 2 | 3:00 | Lima, Peru | |
Win | 9–1 | Priscila Orellana | TKO (punches) | Fusion FC 5 | December 18, 2013 | 1 | 0:50 | Lima, Peru | |
Win | 8–1 | Akjarkyn Baiturbaeva | Decision (unanimous) | KF-1: MMA World Competition | April 30, 2011 | 3 | 5:00 | Seoul, South Korea | |
Loss | 7–1 | Liz Carmouche | TKO (doctor stoppage) | C3 Fights: Red River Rivalry | September 30, 2010 | 2 | 3:00 | Concho, Oklahoma, United States | |
Win | 7–0 | Yulia Nemtsova | Submission (Ezekiel choke) | Professional Free Fight | March 3, 2006 | 1 | 1:11 | Krasnodar, Russia | |
Win | 6–0 | Kyung Aeh Kim | Submission (armbar) | WXF: X-Impact World Championships 2005 | July 9, 2005 | 1 | 1:09 | South Korea | |
Win | 5–0 | Roza Kalieva | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Kazakhstan Federation of Pankration 2 | March 22, 2005 | 1 | 1:09 | Kokshetau, Kazakhstan | |
Win | 4–0 | Alla Iskarenova | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Kazakhstan Federation of Pankration | March 21, 2005 | 1 | 1:12 | Kokshetau, Kazakhstan | |
Win | 3–0 | Erkesh Kokoeva | TKO (punches) | Kyrgyz Federation of Kulatuu 2 | October 15, 2004 | 1 | N/A | Kyrgyzstan | |
Win | 2–0 | Mi Choi Kim | Submission (rear-naked choke) | WXF: X-Impact World Championships 2003 | December 9, 2003 | 1 | 1:55 | Seoul, South Korea | |
Win | 1–0 | Eliza Aidaralieva | TKO (punches) | Kyrgyz Federation of Kulatuu | April 21, 2003 | 2 | N/A | Kyrgyzstan |
See also
References
- ^ "Global female martial artist register: Valentina Shevchenko". awakeningfighters.com. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
- ^ "16 x World Muay Thai Champion Valentina Shevchenko". Tiger Muay Thai. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
- ^ "Valentina Shevchenko Signs with the UFC; Faces Kaufman in Debut | Wombat Sports". Wombatsports.wordpress.com. December 13, 2015. Retrieved December 17, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Valentina Shevchenko - Official UFC Fighter Profile". UFC.com. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
- ^ "Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC on FOX 20's Valentina Shevchenko". MMAmania.com. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ^ a b "No hay quien tumbe a 'La Bala' Shevchenko" (in Russian, English, and Spanish). Marca. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
- ^ "Valentina Shevchenko Talks Cross Sport Success; Signing to Legacy MMA". Wombat Sports. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ "Women's Boxing: Valentina Shevchenko Biography". Wban.org. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ Edwards, Lance. "Legacy Fighting Championship 39 – Valentina Shevchenko". Legacyfights.net. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
- ^ "Valentina Schevchenko". Awakening Fighters.
- ^ "Valentina "Bullet" Shevchenko the Pride of Muaythai". World Muaytahi Council. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
- ^ "Valentina Shevchenko - Hall of Fame". Lamai muaythai Camp.
- ^ "Legacy FC adds pro kickboxing to its resume for January debut on AXS TV". MMA Junkie. Retrieved October 27, 2014.
- ^ "Welcome to the UFC, Valentina Shevchenko". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved December 18, 2015.
- ^ "de Randamie out, Shevchenko to debut against Kaufman". UFC.com. December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^ Martin, Damon (December 16, 2015). "Valentina Shevchenko upsets Sarah Kaufman in UFC debut". FOX Sports. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ Stupp, Dann (December 15, 2015). "UFC on FOX 17 results: Late replacement Valentina Shevchenko stifles Sarah Kaufman". MMAjunkie.com. Retrieved December 20, 2015.
- ^ "UFC 196 results: Amanda Nunes outlasts Valentina Shevchenko for decision win". MMAjunkie. March 6, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "Shevchenko upsets Holm by decision". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ a b Staff (January 28, 2017). "UFC on FOX 23 bonuses: Valentina Shevchenko, Jorge Masvidal among $50,000 extra winners". mmajunkie.com. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ Sherdog.com. "Shevchenko Expects 'Totally Different Fight' in Future Rematch vs. UFC Champ Nunes". Sherdog. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
- ^ "Why couldn't Joanna Jedrzejczyk fight last minute at UFC 213? 'It was about a pregnancy test'". July 9, 2017.
- ^ "Report: Nunes-Shevchenko 2 rescheduled for UFC 215". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved July 19, 2017.
- ^ "UFC 215 results: Amanda Nunes edges out Valentina Shevchenko, remains women's 135 champ". Bloody Elbow. Retrieved September 10, 2017.
- ^ MMAFightingonSBN (September 9, 2017), UFC 215: Valentina Shevchenko Post-Fight Press Conference – MMA Fighting, retrieved September 10, 2017
- ^ "Report: Valentina Shevchenko Considering A Move To Flyweight | Fightful MMA". www.fightful.com. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ a b c Connor, Ruebusch (July 21, 2016). "Styles Make Flops: Holly Holm vs Valentina Shevchenko and Strategic Matchmaking". BloodyElbow.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ a b Duane, Finley (January 27, 2017). "UFC Denver: Pena vs. Shevchenko Breakdown". FloCombat.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ Lynch, James (June 17, 2017). "UFC 213's Valentina Shevchenko talks Amanda Nunes rematch". MMAOddsBreaker.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ Richardson, Andrew (July 19, 2016). "Fighter on Fighter: Breaking down UFC on FOX 20's Valentina Shevchenko". MMAMania.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ Okamoto, Brett (July 23, 2016). "Shevchenko takes decision from Holm at UFC Chicago". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 6, 2017.
- ^ "Valentina Shevchenko". Awakening Fighters. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
- ^ "Info System". January 14, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
- ^ "Info System". December 6, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
External links
- 1988 births
- Sportspeople from Bishkek
- Kyrgyzstani female kickboxers
- Living people
- Female Muay Thai practitioners
- Bantamweight mixed martial artists
- Lightweight kickboxers
- Kyrgyzstani people of Ukrainian descent
- Kyrgyzstani emigrants to Peru
- Kyrgyzstani Christians
- Kyrgyzstani women boxers
- Kyrgyzstani female mixed martial artists
- Kyrgyzstani Muay Thai practitioners
- Kyrgyzstani female taekwondo practitioners
- Naturalized citizens of Peru
- Peruvian female mixed martial artists
- Flyweight mixed martial artists