Top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko in UFC history

Valentina Shevchenko is a legend. As such, let's take a look at her top 5 performances in the UFC.


Top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko in UFC history

Valentina Shevchenko

Former women’s Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is one of the most dominating UFC champions ever. She single-handedly ruled the entire division at one point before losing to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285. Let’s have a look at the top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko in UFC history to honor her legacy.

Shevchenko made her UFC debut against Sarah Kaufman on UFC on Fox: Dos Anjos vs Cerrone 2 and faced the most dominating woman in UFC history, Amanda Nunes in her very second fight. Although she lost that fight by unanimous decision, this made her even stronger.

YouTube video

She challenged Amanda Nunes again at UFC 215 and this time she took the champ into really deep waters. In the end, she faced a loss by a controversial split decision, that many people consider as a robbery. Following this, Shevchenko returned to Flyweight and defeated the champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk to wrap the UFC title around her waist.

FS Video

Since then, she defended her title 7 times, before Grasso defeated her at UFC 285. In the immediate rematch, Shevchenko was only able to get a controversial split draw, allowing Grasso to retain her title. Now, let’s have a look at the top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko in UFC history.

Top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko in UFC history

5. Valentina Shevchenko vs Jessica Andrade – UFC 261

The UFC women’s Flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko faced the former UFC women’s strawweight champion, Jessica Andrade at UFC 261. This was UFC’s first event with a full crowd after COVID restrictions were lifted.

Valentina Shevchenko vs Jessica Andrade
Shevchenko vs Andrade (Via UFC)

Andrade was considered a tough test for Shevchenko due to her excellent wrestling skills, but the champ dominated her throughout the fight. After beating Jessica Andrade in her own game and showing excellent wrestling skills, Shevchenko knocked her out with elbows in the second round.

With this win, she defended her title for the fifth time and this performance landed on the number five spot of the Top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko.

4. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Holly Holm – UFC on Fox: Holm vs Shevchenko

Valentina Shevchenko entered the first main event of her UFC career to face the former UFC women’s Bantamweight champion, Holly Holm. Holm came into this fight after losing her title to Miesha Tate at UFC 196, and Shevchenko came into this one with a loss against Amanda Nunes in her last fight.

Valentina Shevchenko vs Holly Holm
Shevchenko vs Holm (Via UFC)

The stakes were high for both the women entering into this fight and they produced an absolute war for five rounds. In the end, Valentina Shevchenko emerged victorious in this fight by the unanimous decision of the judges and stamped her authority on the division.

This performance of ‘Bullet Valentina’ lands at number 4 in our list of top 5 greatest performances of Valentina Shevchenko.

3. Valentina Shevchenko vs Juliana Pena

Shevchenko took on Juliana Pena in 2017, when she was ranked the number one contender. Pena was ranked number 2 at the time. This was a title elimanator, as the winner would get a chance to take on the champion, Amada Nunes.

Shevchenko submitting Pena
Shevchenko submitting Pena (Via UFC)

The fight began with Pena clinching Shevchenko and landing knees to her body. Shevchenk though, was able to use the clinch to take Pena down. The 1st round ended with Shevchenko attempting an arm bar on Pena.

“Bullet” Valentina was locked in a clinch by Pena and then subsequently taken down in the second round. The American was then able to land vicious ground and pound on her opponent. Unfortunately for her, Shevchenko was able to thwart the onslaught and grasp her hand to complete an armbar than eventually ended the fight. This submission win lands on number three of our top 5 greatest Shevchenko performances.

2. Valentina Shevchenko vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk – UFC 231

Valentina Shevchenko returned to the UFC women’s Flyweight division at UFC 231 to challenge Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant title. The Flyweight title was stripped from Nicco Montano after she faced a terrible weight cut.

Valentina Shevchenko vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Shevchenko vs Jedrzejczyk (Via UFC)

Jedrzejczyk was considered one of the toughest challenges for Shevchenko as she was one of the most elite strikers on the UFC roster. After five rounds of absolute carnage, ‘Bullet Valentina’ won the fight and UFC women’s Flyweight title by unanimous decision of the judges.

1. Valentina Shevchenko vs. Jessica Eye

Valentina Shevchenko took on Jessica Eye to defend her Flyweight title for the first time after winning it from Jedrzejczyk. The fight took place at UFC 238 in 2019, where Shevchenko was the clear favorite. As such, she dominated Eye in the first round, both on the feet and the ground.

Valentina Shevchenko KOs Jessica Eye
Valentina Shevchenko KOs Jessica Eye (Via UFC)

In the second round, Shevchenko’s onslaught of body kicks was wearing Eye down. This forced her to continuously drop her hands and protect her body. Shevcheko was able to read this and used it to land a vicious head kick, which resulted in a highlight-reel knockout. This was her first knockout in the UFC and lands on the number one spot of Shevchenko’s top 5 performances in the UFC.

In case you missed it!