Age, Biography, and Wiki
Valentina Shevchenko was born in Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). She began practicing martial arts at a young age under the guidance of her family. Her early career included Muay Thai and kickboxing, where she accumulated multiple championships. Shevchenko transitioned to mixed martial arts, eventually joining the UFC in 2015. Her impressive fighting skills and strategic approach have made her a compelling figure in the MMA world.
| Occupation | Martial Artist |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 7 March 1988 |
| Age | 37 Years |
| Birth Place | Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan) |
| Horoscope | Pisces |
| Country | Kyrgyzstan |
Height, Weight & Measurements
- Height: 5 feet 5 inches (165 cm)
- Weight: 125 lbs (56.7 kg) Shevchenko's physical attributes contribute to her versatility in the octagon, allowing her to execute a wide range of techniques effectively.
Shevchenko was scheduled to face champion Nicco Montaño on September 8, 2018, at UFC 228. However, prior to the weigh-ins for the event, Montano was transported to a hospital due to the effects of weight cutting. The bout was canceled and Montano was stripped of the Women's Flyweight title. UFC officials then announced that Shevchenko would fight for the vacant 125-pound flyweight title later in 2018.
| Height | 5ft 5in |
| Weight | 125 lb |
| Body Measurements | |
| Eye Color | |
| Hair Color |
Dating & Relationship Status
There is limited public information about Valentina Shevchenko's current relationship status. She keeps her personal life relatively private, focusing more on her professional career.
Her family had Soviet, and later Kyrgyzstan citizenship. Her mother, Elena Shevchenko, is the president of Kyrgyzstan's national Muay Thai association and a former multiple-time Muay Thai champion. Her father, Anatoly Shevchenko, served in the Pacific Fleet of the Soviet Navy for three years during the Cold War, and played for the Kyrgyzstan national football team.
After becoming interested in combat sports at an early age, Valentina began Taekwondo at age five, under the influence of her older sister Antonina and her mother, who both participated in the sport. At age 12 she branched out into Muay Thai kickboxing and then freestyle Vale Tudo. Her kickboxing career began in 2000 when, also at age 12, she knocked out a 22-year-old opponent, earning her the moniker "Bullet" from her trainer Pavel Fedotov because of her speed in the ring. She traveled to Peru with Fedotov and Antonina in 2007, where they became martial arts teachers, and Fedotov eventually relocated his team there permanently. She later gained Peruvian citizenship and is fluent in Russian, English, and Spanish. She also speaks Thai.
| Parents | |
| Husband | |
| Sibling | |
| Children |
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Valentina Shevchenko's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. This figure includes her earnings from fight purses, particularly from her successful title defenses and pay-per-view events, as well as her endorsement deals with brands like Brownells, Girls with Guns Clothing, and Smith & Wesson Corp.. Her salary varies with each fight, with notable earnings including $500,000 for her bout against Taila Santos at UFC 275.
Shevchenko faced Julianna Peña in a possible title eliminator match in the main event at UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña on January 28, 2017. She won the fight by armbar submission in the second round. The win also earned Shevchenko her first Performance of the Night bonus.
Shevchenko faced promotional newcomer Priscila Cachoeira on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125. She won the fight in an extremely dominant fashion and via rear-naked choke in round two, outstriking her opponent 230–3. This win earned her the Performance of the Night bonus.
Shevchenko faced Taila Santos on June 12, 2022, at UFC 275. She won the close bout via split decision (49–46, 48–47, and 47–48). This fight earned her the Crypto.com "Fan Bonus of the Night" awards paid in bitcoin of US$30,000 for first place.
Career, Business, and Investments
Shevchenko's career has been marked by numerous achievements, including a 9-fight winning streak before losing her title to Alexa Grasso in 2023. She has been the face of the UFC women's flyweight division, headlining several high-profile events. Her business ventures include partnerships with various brands, leveraging her fame to endorse products and promote the sport of MMA.
Competing in regional Kyrgiz, Russian and Korean promotions she went undefeated in her next 6 fights, winning all of them via a first-round finish, before deciding to take a hiatus from MMA in 2006 to focus on her Muay Thai and kickboxing career.
She returned to active competition and made her US debut against a future UFC title contender Liz Carmouche on September 30, 2010, at C3 Fights in Concho, Oklahoma. Despite dominating her opponent for the majority of the first round, Shevchenko suffered her first loss after a controversial doctor stoppage due to a large cut caused by an illegal upkick. The referee decided not to call foul, which would result in a disqualification win for Shevchenko, and the fight was instead waved off by the doctor and ruled as a TKO win for Carmouche. After successfully rebounding from her loss in the following year by defeating Akjarkyn Baiturbaeva via unanimous decision and earning the first decision win of her career in the process, Shevchenko took another break from the sport, during which she continued to compete in amateur Muay Thai bouts.
She made her return again in 2013 under the banner of a South American MMA promotion Fusion FC, where she earned two TKO wins with a turnaround of just two months between the fights. With these victories, she improved her professional record to 10–1.
In her second fight for the promotion, Shevchenko faced Amanda Nunes at UFC 196 on March 5, 2016. Although she made an impressive and strong performance in the third round, her slow start in the first two gave the rounds to Nunes. She lost the fight by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–27, and 29–27).
Shevchenko faced Liz Carmouche on August 10, 2019, at UFC Fight Night 156. The pairing met previously under a regional promotion banner in 2010 with Carmouche winning the bout in the second round after the doctor stopped the bout due to a large cut stemming from an upkick. Shevchenko won the rematch via unanimous decision (50–45, 50–45, and 50–45).
Shevchenko faced Alexa Grasso on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285. In a surprise upset, she lost the bout and title via a face crank in the fourth round. The defeat marked her first career loss at Flyweight, her first non-decision loss in the UFC and the first time she had been submitted in her MMA career.
Social Network
Valentina Shevchenko is active on social media platforms like Instagram, where she engages with fans and shares updates about her life and career. Her presence on these platforms helps maintain her visibility and supports her brand partnerships.
The rematch against Nunes was rescheduled to UFC 215 on September 9, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta. After a very close back-and-forth fight, Shevchenko lost the fight via split decision (48–47, 48–47, and 47–48). In the post-fight press conference, she voiced her disagreement with the judges' decision but also said she respected the outcome. Out of 22 media outlets, 10 scored it for Nunes, 10 for Shevchenko, and 2 scored it a draw.
The following year, it was announced that Shevchenko will be fighting the boxing champion Melissa Hernandez for her WIBA Lightweight belt. This announcement was met with much criticism from boxing pundits and other boxers alike, as Shevchenko was an unranked fighter with only one professional boxing match on her record at the time of the announcement. After allegedly being threatened to be stripped of her title for refusing to defend it against Shevchenko, Hernandez vacated the belt in November, commenting that Shevchenko fighting for a world title is like "a slap in the face" and that "it's time someone stands up for women's boxing". Lightweight fighter and multiple-time boxing champion Ann Saccurato stepped in to fight Shevchenko for the vacated WIBA title, but the event was eventually canceled.
On December 17, 2011, Shevchenko faced Nerys Rincon at Pueblo Libra Reserclub in Lima, Peru. She won via TKO in the fourth round after sending her opponent to the canvas several times in the third round. Like in her professional debut, she largely fought in a kickboxing stance and frequently used Muay Thai grappling, which Rincon unsuccessfully protested on many occasions during the match.
Education
There is limited information available about Valentina Shevchenko's formal education. Her focus from an early age has been on martial arts and combat sports, leading her to pursue a career in MMA.
Valentina Shevchenko's journey from Kyrgyzstan to the top of the UFC is a testament to her dedication, skill, and perseverance. Her net worth and career successes reflect her impact on the world of mixed martial arts.
Shevchenko earned an undergraduate degree in Film Directing from the National Academy of Arts of the Kyrgyz Republic. In December 2021, the university awarded her the title of an Honored Professor.
