Valentina Shevchenko, the UFC champion in the under 57 kg category, has been awarded the title of "Female Fighter of the Year" by MMA Junkie for the first time.
Throughout 2025, she had two successful fights, both of which ended with her title defense. The first bout took place at UFC 315 in Montreal, where Shevchenko faced Manon Fiorot, the top contender, and won by unanimous decision. In her second fight at UFC 322 in New York, she battled former champion Zhang Weili, demonstrating complete dominance throughout the match and reaffirming her status as the strongest in the division.
These achievements allowed Valentina to surpass Mackenzie Dern, who also finished the year with a record of 2-0, and rightfully earn the title of best female fighter of 2025.
According to experts, 2025 was a landmark year for Shevchenko, solidifying her position among the top athletes in women's MMA and confirming her reputation as a dominant UFC champion.
