At 37, Valentina Shevchenko, the UFC women’s flyweight champion, is now a prominent contender for the title of greatest female fighter in MMA history. In a tight contest against the talented French striker Manon Fiorot, she successfully defended her title at UFC 315 held in Montreal.

After a tricky start, Shevchenko navigated through the challenge, ultimately winning by a unanimous decision, with all judges scoring the bout 48-47 in her favor. This marks her tenth victory in title fights, affirming her dominance in the 125-pound division.

Shevchenko remarked on her fight preparation: “I anticipated a very hard fight because Manon is a skilled striker; however, I executed my fight strategy effectively.”

In the early rounds, viewing seemed favorable for Shevchenko as she effectively countered Fiorot’s attacks, resulting in a rough opening for the challenger. Nevertheless, Fiorot showcased resilience, rallying back to take consecutive rounds, proving her own mettle.

In the final rounds, Shevchenko adjusted her tactics, employing a spinning backfist approach and landing decisive strikes that helped her secure the narrow victory. Reflecting on her performance, she dedicated the win to her sister, Antonina, stating, “For so many years, my main training partner was my sister, she was a southpaw. At my age, it is crucial to maintain mental and physical well-being—it’s all about performance.”

Fiorot suffered her first defeat since entering the professional arena in 2018, having previously won all seven of her UFC matchups.