Valentina Shevchenko was expecting to fight for the UFC Women’s Flyweight Title at UFC 228, but then champion Nicco Montano pulled out of the fight due to the effects of the weight cut.
UFC President Dana White has said that Shevchenko would get an opportunity for the gold later this year after stripping Montano of the title and former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedzrezjczyk has thrown her name into the hat to fight Shevchenko.
“Who knows – maybe this year,” Jedrzejczyk told MMA Junkie. “The thing is, I’m very open to move up and face Valentina. I always want to face the best athletes, the best fighters in the world, and Valentina is one of the greatest muay Thai and also MMA fighters. I’m very open, but I must sit down and discuss some things. We’ll see what’s going to happen.”
Shevchenko does hold a trio of victories over Jedrzejczyk, but those happened in their days as amateur kickboxers.
Jedrzejczyk isn’t just think about the opportunity to win more gold in the UFC, but to achieve a longtime dream.
“One of my biggest dreams is becoming a champion in the 125-pound division and becoming a champion in two different divisions,” Jedrzejczyk said. “I’m still dreaming about it, and I know it’s going to happen sooner than later.”
If the fight were to come together, it would feature a fighter in Shevchenko that has just one fight in the division against another competitor in Jedrzejczyk that hasn’t fought at all in the weight class during her UFC tenure.
