Valentina Shevchenko and former UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano were supposed to fight for the gold at UFC 228, but Montano pulled out of the fight and was subsequently stripped of the title.
The two fighters have been going back and forth for quite some time now and Shevchenko isn’t even sure of Montano will ever compete again.
“I’m not even sure that she will ever come back to fight,” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie Radio. “People have their limits with their feelings. They never go over this feeling. Maybe it was the most for her, and she will be happy for the rest of her days. She already did it (become UFC champion). I’m not sure she will ever go back and fight anywhere. Just anywhere in general.”
Shevchenko is moving onto a fight against former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231, with the winner becoming the new UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion.
There was no back up for the women’s flyweight title bout at UFC 228 and Shevchenko hopes there is backup for the bout at UFC 231.
“It’s good to have some backup because you never know what could happen, because if something happens you have someone to recover,” Shevchenko said. “Something happened last time, and they could not find any replacement on such short notice. It’s good to have backup. Let’s see what will go. It doesn’t matter for me. I will prepare and will be ready for everyone. My only hope that will happen is the fight. It doesn’t matter against who.”
UFC 231 takes place on Saturday, December 8 from the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with Max Holloway and Brian Ortega headlining. Fightful is providing live coverage of the event, with a post-show podcast to follow.
