The second-ever women’s champion vs. champion bout in UFC history may actually be on the horizon between flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko and strawweight beltholder Zhang Weili for 2025.
Zhang’s latest title defense came in a dominant decision over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February. Ahead of the matchup, Zhang teased that prior discussions were had for her to instead challenge for Shevchenko’s 125-pound strap. Zhang claimed an injury spoiled Shevchenko’s availability, however both Zhang and UFC CEO Dana White doubled down on the potential matchup after the champ’s clinic over Suarez, with White stating he was “probably going to say yes” to whatever fight Zhang wanted next.
According to Shevchenko, the Zhang matchup was never discussed before she landed her next title defense against Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 in May.
“[From] my perspective, I knew that I’m going to face, I’m going to defend my belt against Manon [next],” Shevchenko said Tuesday on Uncrowned’s “The Ariel Helwani Show.”
“When Weili called me out, I thought it might [cause a] slight change, but when UFC reached out with the final agreement for the fight, yeah, it was the same [idea we had] before all this happened.”
Still, fights don’t get much higher quality than what Shevchenko vs. Zhang could provide. Both women have near-indestructible cases that rank them among their respective division’s greatest of all time. The duo also hold the top two spots in Uncrowned’s and the UFC’s official pound-for-pound rankings.
Of the two, Zhang has been much more outspoken about her intentions to one day challenge the flyweight titleholder. Yet,t despite Shevchenko’s relative silence since recapturing her belt and becoming a two-time champion in September, “The Bullet” is up to the task if she gets past France’s Fiorot.
“Why not? Who else?” Shevchenko said of the Zhang matchup.
“I think it would be [an] amazing fight. I think it would be something that fans would love to see.”
Zhang’s win over Suarez — which was actually an upset per BetMGM lines — reminded the world why the reigning two-time strawweight champion is one of the best to ever do it. Matched against perhaps the most feared wrestler the division has ever seen, Zhang beat Suarez at her own game, dominating the fight with strong wrestling and her superior striking.
As a fan of both competitors in the recent 115-pound title tilt, Shevchenko said she enjoyed seeing the styles contrast, as well as Suarez’s perseverance throughout her own long road to a title shot.
But Shevchenko isn’t looking beyond her upcoming challenger Fiorot, who’s amassed a 12-fight winning streak and a perfect 7-0 record in the UFC. Unlike past opponents, Fiorot has made it easier for Shevchenko to hone in thanks to Fiorot’s social media trash talk. Shevchenko recalled relaxing on a cruise through the Pacific Ocean in recent months when Fiorot started stirring the pot and calling for her title fight. Thanks to the island scenery and relaxed atmosphere, Shevchenko couldn’t have been less bothered — and she still isn’t entirely convinced it was even the Frenchwoman hitting send.
At UFC 315, Shevchenko wants to return respect to her latest rival.
“I know she’s claiming to be a karate person, and it’s all about respect, how you see the world, how you approach the martial arts,” Shevchenko said. “But throwing these kind of dirty tweets [out] — if she’s really thinking it’s going to provoke [me], to force the action [with] someone, I think it’s mistaken.
“It’s funny, it’s silly. I would understand [if a] person already did something — defend [a] belt, been champion or something like that. But without doing a thing, starting to go around and assault everyone, it’s not how this thing works. Yeah, maybe she wanted some attention, or maybe someone gives this advice to her, like some bright mind decided to come up with this strategy. But I don’t think that is the smart thing. Me, especially being [a] martial artist all my life, martial arts is all about respect.
“Especially karate being [a form of] martial arts with a huge story, it’s teaching of these things. But I guess it’s teaching everyone except Manon, except their gym.”
