Valentina Shevchenko non-committal on potential UFC champ-champ fight vs. Zhang Weili
Valentina Shevchenko non-committal on potential UFC champ-champ fight vs. Zhang Weili
MONTREAL – Valentina Shevchenko is not saying no, but not saying yes either, to a potential champion vs. champion super fight against Zhang Weili.
Following a successful title defense Saturday at UFC 315, Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) was non-committal to the highly requested bout against Weili, who holds the UFC women's strawweight belt. Shevchenko is open to the fight, but sees other viable options, and also doesn't want to make any hasty decision, wanting to think things over for her next career step.
"It's kind of for me after the fight you get the victory, the belt is with you, and you still have adrenaline running and everything like that, (so) to answer the exact question, I would prefer to take it with one of two days when I will rest," Shevchenko said at the UFC 315 post-fight press conference. "I don't say about the timing because it's very important to have proper recovery and go to the next training camp with full power. It's mostly about (timing)."
Shevchenko defended her women's flyweight title against Manon Fiorot in the co-main event of UFC 315 – which took place at at Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada. It was her first title defense of her second championship reign, and her 10th overall UFC championship win.
"Bullet" said that she was asked a lot about Natalia Silva, who defeated former champion Alexa Grasso that same night, along with the potential fight with Weili. That's a fight she'd consider and would like to hear the fans' input on their preference.
"Before coming to (the press conference), everyone was saying Weili or Natalia for No. 1 contender," Shevchenko said. "Maybe fans can play some role in that and if they can join my OnlyFans page and drop some messages on who they want to see me fight next. I think we'll compare and see who's next."
Shevchenko is considered the greatest UFC women's flyweight champion in history, and one of the all-time greats in women's MMA. Although 37 and now with 30 professional fights, Shevchenko has no plans in retiring anytime soon, and assures she's here for a while longer.
"I still keep going," Shevchenko said. "I'm not stopping. It's just the beginning."
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