UFC 315 co-main event: Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot ends in retirement wager controversy
Photo byUFC 315
's co-main event may have delivered a thrilling title bout between flyweight queen
Valentina Shevchenko
and France's
Manon Fiorot
, but it also came with an unusual pre-fight stipulation: potential retirement. Both fighters teased the idea that the loser would walk away from the sport. In the aftermath of a razor-close five-round battle, Shevchenko emerged victorious but made it clear that the retirement chatter should stay exactly where it started — in the realm of pre-fight hype.
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Shevchenko emphasized that she wants Fiorot to keep fighting, not to be bound by words meant to sell a fight.
'I completely don't want her to retire' - Valentina Shevchenko's message to Manon Fiorot after UFC 315
Valentina Shevchenko
retained her flyweight title with a hard-earned
unanimous decision victory
over Manon Fiorot, winning all three judges' scorecards by 48-47. Despite the intense battle and competitive spirit, Shevchenko used her post-fight platform to address Fiorot directly — not as a rival, but as a fellow martial artist.
'To be very clear, before the fight Manon [suggested] that if she won, I retire,' Shevchenko explained. 'I responded to her, if I won, she retires. So I completely don't want her to retire. This is what I really don't want her to follow her words because I feel it's unfair for the fighter because someone put [the words] in her mouth to promote the fight or something like that and now she feels she has to retire? No, don't follow your words, please stay fighting.'
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At 37, Shevchenko continues to defy age expectations, showcasing elite form and composure under pressure. She attributed much of her preparation for Fiorot's southpaw stance to years of training alongside her recently retired sister, Antonina, whose technique and power helped sharpen her timing and awareness.
'During my fighting career, my main partner, one of the main partners was my sister and she's southpaw,' said Shevchenko. 'Her kicks and her punches are incomparable. So the speed, the power, and everything and working with her during all these years is kind of like, now when Manon throws the kicks, I kind of see them from very, very far.'
Also Read:
Jack Della Maddalena shuts down 'Canelo hands' hype after UFC 315 win over Belal Muhammad
With contenders like strawweight champ Zhang Weili and flyweight dark horse Natalia Silva lining up, Shevchenko's next move remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: she doesn't want to see Fiorot exit the sport. In her eyes, Saturday was about competition — not conclusions.
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