Shevchenko Crushes Zhang Weili and Retains UFC Women’s Title

Valentina Shevchenko Reigns Supreme at UFC 322, Showcasing Her Dominance in the Flyweight Division

In a demonstration of power and skill, Valentina Shevchenko solidified her position as the number one pound-for-pound in the women’s world of mixed martial arts (MMA) by defending her flyweight championship (125 pounds) on Saturday. The fight, which took place at Madison Square Garden, saw her prevail by unanimous decision over former strawweight champion Zhang Weili. With this victory, Shevchenko tied with Amanda Nunes at the top of UFC history in terms of championship fight wins, totaling 11. The fight, billed as one of the most anticipated in the history of women’s MMA, saw Zhang move up a weight class from 115 pounds to challenge Shevchenko. However, the action in the octagon was clearly dominated by Shevchenko, who took every round on all three judges’ scorecards.

“This is the art of martial arts. When there is an opponent who is very tough in their category against others, but when they are here, in front of me, they can’t do anything,” Shevchenko declared.

Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko’s strategy, at 37 years old, was based on her superiority in all areas of the fight, especially in grappling. She constantly took Zhang down and controlled her on the ground, neutralizing her offense and dictating the distance and timing of the takedowns. In addition, Shevchenko found success with leg and body kicks.

“I was prepared for the most difficult challenge. I knew I couldn’t trade blows with Weili; she has a lot of power. That’s why I worked very hard and intelligently to use distance and wrestling,” explained Shevchenko.

Valentina Shevchenko

According to statistics, Shevchenko surpassed Zhang in total strikes (137-80) and completed 5 out of 6 takedown attempts. The champion only needed one takedown per round, as Zhang failed to get back on her feet. Shevchenko accumulated 13 minutes and 24 seconds of control time, during which she was close to achieving the crucifix on several occasions. Shevchenko’s future in the flyweight division presents several interesting options. Natalia Silva, who is coming off a dominant decision victory over Alexa Grasso, could be her next challenger. Erin Blanchfield, after submitting Tracy Cortez at UFC 322, is also emerging as a strong contender. Furthermore, bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison could be an intriguing rival. Harrison will defend her title against Nunes in early 2026. If Harrison wins, she has expressed interest in facing Shevchenko. It is worth noting that Shevchenko has already competed at bantamweight and challenged Nunes for the 135-pound title in 2016. For her part, Zhang Weili promised to come back strong, but did not reveal whether she will stay at 125 pounds or return to 115.