TLDR
- Valentina Shevchenko defeated Zhang Weili by unanimous decision at UFC 322, recording her ninth flyweight title defense
- The win sets a UFC women’s record for most title defenses and places Shevchenko fifth on the all-time list
- Shevchenko is considering moving up to bantamweight to challenge either Amanda Nunes or Kayla Harrison
- Amanda Nunes announced plans to drop to flyweight after fighting Harrison, aiming to become the first three-division UFC champion
- Nunes holds two previous victories over Shevchenko from 2016 and 2017
Valentina Shevchenko successfully defended her flyweight championship with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Zhang Weili at UFC 322 in New York City on Saturday. The fight marked Shevchenko’s ninth title defense, setting a new record for women’s UFC title defenses.
Shevchenko swept all three judges’ scorecards in a performance that exceeded her own expectations. She had prepared for a difficult contest against the former strawweight champion. “I was preparing for a war,” Shevchenko said at the post-fight press conference. “I even took all my anti-inflammatory pills with me because I didn’t know how I was going to walk out of the octagon.”
The training camp for the Zhang fight proved to be one of Shevchenko’s most demanding. She described it as one of the largest, longest, and hardest training camps of her career. The intense preparation paid off with a decisive victory that solidified her position atop the women’s pound-for-pound rankings.
The win moves Shevchenko to fifth place on the all-time UFC title defense list across all divisions. Her record now strengthens her case as one of the greatest female fighters in mixed martial arts history. Shevchenko acknowledged the importance of the victory over a competitor of Zhang’s caliber.
Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) has tied Amanda Nunes for most title fight wins in @UFC women's history with 11.
Complete #VeChain #UFC322 Main Card Results ➡️ https://t.co/wpItLrKgLw pic.twitter.com/A8uT9yi6gj
— UFC News (@UFCNews) November 16, 2025
Future Options at Flyweight and Bantamweight
Following the victory, discussion turned to Shevchenko’s next move. She indicated that several options exist both in her current division and at bantamweight. At flyweight, contenders Erin Blanchfield and Natalia Silva represent potential challengers.
However, the possibility of moving up to bantamweight has gained traction. Current bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison presents one option for Shevchenko. Harrison, an Olympic judo gold medalist, has transitioned successfully to MMA and holds the 135-pound title.
The other potential matchup involves Amanda Nunes, who announced plans to return from retirement. Nunes previously announced her intention to fight Harrison for the bantamweight title. Shevchenko and Nunes have fought twice before, with Nunes winning both encounters by decision in 2016 and 2017.
Valentina Shevchenko Reveals she’s ready for the Next Big Challenge After UFC 322
Win🥊💥💥Head on over to https://t.co/Wa3izR7TN8 for more #updates!!!!#UFC #Reels #Afrocombat #breaking #news #headline #knockout #explorepage #mma pic.twitter.com/8A0XBohsLW
— AfroCombat (@afro_combat) November 17, 2025
Shevchenko expressed interest in a trilogy fight with Nunes. “I would say probably fans would love to see Amanda trilogy because it was unfinished business,” she stated. However, she noted uncertainty about Nunes’ return and the condition she would be in after time away from competition.
Nunes Plans Three-Division Attempt
Nunes added a new dimension to potential future matchups with her recent announcement. After stating her intention to fight Harrison, Nunes revealed plans to drop to flyweight. She posted on Instagram that after beating Harrison, she would “go down to 125 and take this belt for collection, too.”
If successful, Nunes would become the first three-division champion in UFC history. She has never competed at flyweight previously. Public records show Nunes has been tested twice this year for the UFC’s anti-doping program, indicating progress toward her return.
Shevchenko stated she will take time to recover from injuries before making a decision about her next fight. She plans to discuss options with her team and coach within the coming weeks. Harrison has also expressed interest in fighting Shevchenko, laying groundwork for a potential matchup between the two champions.
