Home / Sports / Flyweight Queen Shevchenko Retains Title with Decisive Win
Flyweight Queen Shevchenko Retains Title with Decisive Win
16 Nov
Summary
- Valentina Shevchenko defends flyweight title with dominant victory over Zhang Weili
- Shevchenko ties UFC record for most title fight wins with 11
- Zhang moves up from strawweight to challenge Shevchenko but fails to pose a threat
On November 12, 2025, Valentina Shevchenko cemented her position as the premier female fighter in mixed martial arts, successfully defending her UFC flyweight championship with a decisive victory over former strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili.
The highly anticipated matchup, billed as one of the biggest women's MMA fights in history, saw Shevchenko (26-4-1) tie the UFC record for most title fight wins with 11. The 37-year-old Kyrgyzstani fighter dominated the action from start to finish, utilizing her superior grappling skills to repeatedly take Zhang (26-4) to the mat and control the fight.
Shevchenko's mastery of distance and timing was on full display, as she neutralized Zhang's vaunted striking power and prevented the Chinese fighter from ever gaining any momentum. By the end of the five-round contest, Shevchenko had outlanded Zhang in total strikes 137-80 and converted five of her six takedown attempts.
With the victory, Shevchenko solidified her status as the undisputed No. 1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world. She now has several intriguing options for her next title defense, including a potential superfight against reigning bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, should Harrison successfully defend her title against Amanda Nunes in early 2026.
