UFC Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is open to more “super fights” after a successful title defense against former strawweight champion Zhang Weili at UFC 322, as she named Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes as some of her targets.
Valentina won a unanimous decision, 50-45 (x3), in a second defense of her title. Shevchenko told reporters in her post-fight comments she is content to assess several high-profile options. Key among her potential targets are UFC Bantamweight Champion Kayla Harrison, who represents a fresh challenge in a higher weight class, and her old rival, two-division champion Amanda Nunes, for a trilogy fight. Shevchenko also acknowledged facing off against other top flyweight contenders, such as Erin Blanchfield and Natalia Silva.
“I think it’s one of the possibilities, and I consider that. It’s kind of like, for now, I want to take care of injuries that I have, that [have been] kind of migrating from training camp to training camp with me [laughs]. But after maybe a week or something like that, we will have our conversation with my team and my coach, and decide what’s next, because I feel there are good challengers in flyweight as well; Erin [Blanchfield], Natalia [Silva], and bantamweight, now we have Amanda [Nunes] or Kayla [Harrison].
“I would say probably fans would love to see Amanda trilogy because it was unfinished business, but in the same time, it’s unclear yet, is she return or not return? Is she fighting or not fighting? And also, it’s unknown in what shape she’s going to return. Like, half Amanda or maybe full Amanda? Who knows? But Kayla is also one of the possibilities, and it’s going to be another super challenge,” Valentina said