Valentina Shevchenko's next Flyweight Title challenger is one who helped spearhead the division in the UFC.
ESPN has reported that the champion Shevchenko (19-3) will defend her championship against #3 Joanne Calderwood (14-4).The fight is slated to take place at UFC 251 in June. Thus far a location, venue, and main event have yet to be announced.
Shevchenko is objectively the greatest Flyweight in UFC women's history at this point, having successfully defended her championship three times since winning it in December 2018. She's also given Amanda Nunes the toughest fights of her title run at Bantamweight. Shevchenko defended her title just under two weeks ago at UFC 247.
Calderwood has won three of her four last four fights, all at Flyweight. She'd competed as a UFC Flyweight in 2016 before the formation of an actual division. She'd pushed for a 125 pound division for the next couple of years, but was booked in 115 pound fights as the division came to fruition, which nearly cost her UFC career. Overall, she's 6-1 for her career when competing over 120 pounds.
