Dana White Confronted With Special Request for Valentina Shevchenko as Fans Fall Head Over Heels Ahead of UFC 315

In the UFC, how many fighters can boast seven title defenses? Names like Jon Jones, Amanda Nunes, and Demetrious Johnson are among a list of esteemed names. But how many of these above champions have had strong resumes outside the UFC? Names like Alex Pereira, Israel Adesanya, Daniel Cormier, and Henry Cejudo come to mind, but they didn’t clock in 7 title defenses. So among these champs with 7 or more defenses, how many fighters can boast that they’ve competed more than 500 times? Unbelievable to say the least, these astonishing feats go hand in hand with the only Kyrgyz champion in the UFC, Valentina Shevchenko.

The pride of Kyrgyzstan, ‘Bullet’ Valentina Shevchenko, is already among the greatest women to ever compete in our beloved sport of MMA. Currently aged 37, she began her illustrious career at the mere age of 12. Presently, as she heads into the Octagon once again at UFC 315, she is back on her winning ways and ready to defend the flyweight title against Manon Fiorot.

Shevchenko was already a renowned mixed-martial artist long before joining the UFC. During her Muay Thai days, she was inflicting the same terror on her opponents as she does now. In her ventures before the UFC, she became the IFMA gold medalist in the years 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2011. She was also the World Muay Thai Federation champion in 2006 and 2011.

One picture of the Kyrgyz striker captures this essence of her Muay Thai days, shared as a memoir. But the fans are losing their minds over the picture. While some believe she resembles Muhammad Ali, others are making superhero references.

The photo does have a heavy aura to it. And the fans who are already overly obsessed with Shevchenko went head over heels for this picture. Displaying a 20-year-old Valentina, looking down at her opponent, standing menacingly—has won the hearts of the whole MMA community. In a sport where we rarely ever sit down and agree on each other’s opinions, Shevchenko made fans stand united and praise the legendary picture.

Whether it’s her character, her fighting skills, or her mentality, fans and veterans alike admire Valentina Shevchenko. And what did fans have to say about Shevchenko’s iconic memoir? Let’s have a look.

“I need this on a t shirt.”- Fans flood the comment section in awe of Valentina Shevchenko’s 2008 memoir

Fans are already hyped to see Shevchenko fight in the later years of her career, going against the French fighter Manon Fiorot. While she prepares for her next bout, the picture she posted has gathered massive attention, it seems. Fans couldn’t stop commenting, imagining how good the picture would look printed on their t-shirts. One fan commented, “Someone plsss make this a shirt” as another also said, “Put it on a tee shirt.”

In a rather passionate tone, one fan wrote, “This should be a memorial shirt piece @fullviolence @darrenviolence.” Can you really argue with that? The cinematic feeling behind this picture is something we only feel when we see movies with safely choreographed moves. Witnessing this picture in evokes that feeling. Expressing the same one fan wrote, “ABSOLUTE CINEMA” as another said, “This needs to be a poster.”

Valentina Shevchenko isn’t just a fighter. In all senses she is a true MMA practitioner who is well-versed in all aspects of the game. Her skills and dominant nature inside the Octagon, coupled with her knowledge of firearms use, led to two fans making references to iconic Marvel superheroes. One fan wrote, “Winter soldier vibe.” and another fan more accurately commented: “Real life black widow.”

On May 10th, at UFC 315, Valentina Shevchenko will enter the Octagon not just as a defending champion but as a veteran who has time and time again stood against the odds. Her dominance in the UFC suffered a major setback when she clashed with Alexa Grasso and lost to her, then their second bout ended in a draw. However, in September 2024, she beat Grasso to become the UFC flyweight champion again.

Her fight with Fiorot will be her first title defense in her second title reign. Can Valentina Shevchenko be able to beat Fiorot and continue enhancing her legacy? Or has time caught up to even the ‘Bullet’? Let us know in the comments.

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