Shevchenko humiliates Zhang and retains the flyweight title at UFC 322

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

In a demonstration of power and technique, Valentina Shevchenko, considered the number one pound-for-pound fighter in the world, defended her flyweight championship (125 pounds) on Saturday at UFC 322, held at Madison Square Garden. Shevchenko defeated former strawweight champion Zhang Weili (26-4) by unanimous decision in the co-main event, solidifying her legacy in the world of mixed martial arts. With this victory, Shevchenko (26-4-1) tied with the legendary Amanda Nunes for the number of wins in UFC championship fights, with a total of 11.

Saturday’s fight was billed as one of the most anticipated matchups in women’s MMA history, as Zhang vacated her 115-pound title to challenge Shevchenko. However, the fight tilted clearly in favor of Shevchenko, who won every round according to the scorecards of all three judges.

This is the art of martial arts. When there is an opponent who is super tough in her weight category against all the others, but when they are here, in front of me, they can’t do anything.

Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko, 37 years old, displayed clear superiority in all aspects of the fight, especially in grappling. She repeatedly took Zhang down and controlled her on the ground, neutralizing her offense and dictating the distance and timing of her takedowns. Although most of her work was done on the ground, she also had success in striking, connecting kicks to the legs and body.

I was prepared for the most difficult challenge. I knew I couldn’t trade blows with Weili; she has impressive striking power. That’s why I worked very hard and intelligently to use distance and wrestling.

Valentina Shevchenko

According to UFC statistics, Shevchenko outstruck Zhang in total strikes (137-80) and completed 5 of 6 takedown attempts. She only needed one takedown per round, as Zhang was unable to get back up. Shevchenko accumulated 13 minutes and 24 seconds of control time, during which she came close to achieving the crucifix on several occasions. The immediate future of Shevchenko presents interesting possibilities. Her most likely next challenger in flyweight is the Brazilian Natalia Silva (19-5-1), who is coming off a dominant decision victory over Alexa Grasso in May. Erin Blanchfield, who submitted Tracy Cortez at UFC 322 on Saturday, also has a solid resume. However, the most intriguing possibility is the bantamweight champion, Kayla Harrison, who is expected to defend her title against Nunes in early 2026. Nunes is returning from retirement with the goal of regaining the belt she vacated in 2023. If Harrison wins, she has already expressed her interest in facing Shevchenko next. Shevchenko has already competed at bantamweight and challenged Nunes for the 135-pound belt in 2016. Meanwhile, Zhang vowed to come back strong, but did not indicate whether he will stay at 125 pounds or return to 115.