Valentina noted that she expected a tough fight and prepared for it with utmost seriousness, comparing her training to preparing for war.
“I even brought anti-inflammatory medication with me, as I couldn’t predict what condition I would be in after leaving the octagon. The preparation was so intense that the fight itself seemed less difficult. However, I never thought for a moment that it would be easy,” Shevchenko said.
She emphasized that she did not allow herself to relax for a moment:
“From the very beginning to the end, there was no room for overconfidence: Zhang is a top-level opponent with powerful strikes. Even when I hit her to the body a few times, I understood that if I went too far, I could receive a serious response and end up on the floor. At this level, there is no room for mistakes.”
Valentina also discussed possible directions for her career, including a potential fight with the champion in a higher weight class, Kayla Harrison.
“This is one of the options I am considering. But first, I need to deal with the injuries that have been bothering me for several camps. In a week, we will discuss everything with the team and make a decision about the next steps,” she added.
According to Shevchenko, there are also strong contenders in her current division:
- Erin Blanchfield,
- Natalia Silva.
As for the bantamweight division, potential opponents could be:
- Amanda Nunes,
- Kayla Harrison.
“I am sure that fans are waiting for our trilogy with Amanda; we have unfinished business. But it’s unclear whether she will return and in what condition. Kayla is also an interesting option; it would be a real challenge,” Shevchenko concluded.
After the fight, UFC president Dana White noted that he expected a more impressive performance from Weili Zhang:
“I thought Weili was a little pit bull and she would show herself better. One of my friends told me after the fight: ‘That’s why there are weight classes in sports.’”
