The flyweight queen is not closing the door on a move up.
Valentina Shevchenko is just a week away from her latest defense of the UFC women’s flyweight gold at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
In the co-main event of UFC 322, Shevchenko will be challenged by Zhang Weili, a former two-time strawweight titleholder who is moving up in pursuit of becoming only the second female double champion in the promotion’s history.
‘Bullet’ herself could have achieved that feat by now, but she fell short of the bantamweight throne before beginning her reign of dominance in the flyweight division. After her second loss to Amanda Nunes, the sole two-division champ on the women’s roster, Shevchenko’s bantamweight aspirations faded upon the Brazilian’s retirement.
Now, they might be set to come back…
Valentina Shevchenko’s bantamweight interest is back ahead of ‘rumored’ Amanda Nunes comeback
After losing in a non-title fight, Shevchenko’s rematch against Nunes in 2017 ended in a tight decision win for the Brazilian that ‘Bullet’ staunchly protested.
She teased a return to the bantamweight division as flyweight queen to challenge the ‘Lioness’, but Nunes’ shock retirement in 2023 ended those hopes of revenge.
However, with Nunes planning a comeback in 2026, it seems as though Shevchenko’s ambitions of two-division title glory could soon return.
“For a long time, (Nunes) was the only reason why I would return to 135 (pounds),” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn.
“It was just one name, unfinished business what I had with Amanda. When she retired, I lost interest for that.
“Now, let’s see,” she continued. “The rumor is that she’s un-retired, but let’s see if it’s a reality.”
Kayla Harrison hopes to entice Valentina Shevchenko up to 135 pounds
While the flyweight queen appears most intrigued by the possibility of a third shot at beating Nunes, the Brazilian’s likely comeback opponent also hopes to share the cage with ‘Bullet’.
Kayla Harrison is expecting to ‘whoop’ Nunes early next year, spoiling Shevchenko’s potential plans to run it back with the ‘Lioness’ in the process.
But during an appearance on Jorge Masvidal’s Death Row MMA YouTube podcast, the reigning bantamweight champ expressed her desire to face Shevchenko on the White House card in June 2026.
“My perfect world, I fight soon and then I fight again at the White House,” Harrison said. “For sure I am going to be on the White House card; I’m the only American champion.
“I am gonna whoop her (Nunes’) a— real quick, and then in my perfect world, either Valentina beats Weili (and that fight happens at the White House),” she continued, before outlining a more ambitious wish.
“Or everybody has been talking about Ronda (Rousey) coming back, so that would be great.”