Zhang was unable to impose her game on the champion, which led to her fourth loss in her career. Shevchenko now also has 26 wins and four losses, with one fight ending in a draw.
This victory in New York marked the third consecutive win for the 37-year-old athlete. She also matched the record of Brazilian Amanda Nunes for the most wins in UFC title fights — 11. Thus, Shevchenko retained her UFC Women's Flyweight Championship title.
After the final bell, Shevchenko dedicated her victory to her coach Pavel Fedotov.
She emphasized that the key moment was the strategy of avoiding exchanges with an opponent who has a powerful knockout punch and using distance fighting.
Shevchenko noted: "This is a serious challenge. She really has strong strikes, so I tried to avoid confrontations, used grappling, and acted at a distance. This is the art of mixed martial arts."
The athlete also mentioned possible future title defenses, highlighting Natalia Silva and Erin Blanchfield.
When asked if she continues to enjoy her dominance in the UFC, the champion replied affirmatively:
“Yes, for me, this is not just a sport and a career, but a lifestyle. As long as my health allows, I will continue. I am grateful to my team and coach Pavel Fedotov — he is an incredible person and coach. This belt belongs to him,” she added.
