Valentina Shevchenko defeated Zhang Weili by unanimous decision on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York, where the flyweight champion halted Zhang’s bid to become only the second woman to claim UFC titles in two weight classes.
Size proved the defining factor throughout. Zhang, who vacated her strawweight belt earlier this year to move up 10 pounds in search of history, struggled to impose her speed and pressure against a physically stronger opponent. Whenever Shevchenko chose to engage in the clinch or wrestle, the champion from Kyrgyzstan was able to take Zhang down and work into dominant positions, landing steady ground strikes and controlling extended stretches of the fight.
Zhang found occasional success in the stand up exchanges, her punches carrying the snap that has long been a trademark of her game. Yet Shevchenko, a former Muay Thai standout, handled the moments of pressure with composure and was never seriously threatened during the 25 minute contest, on the feet or on the mat. The victory marked her 11th win in flyweight title fights across two reigns since 2018.
The pattern was set early. In the first round, Zhang’s attempt to surge forward was met with a takedown, and although she scrambled free, she was grounded again moments later. Round two brought more of the same as Shevchenko secured an early clinch, swept Zhang to the canvas and advanced to side control, where she remained for most of the frame.
Zhang rallied briefly in the third, stuffing takedowns and forcing more striking exchanges. Shevchenko quickly recalibrated, landing a hard body shot that halted Zhang’s momentum before securing yet another takedown and finishing the round in control.
The challenger’s hesitation became evident in the fourth, her earlier bursts repeatedly punished by Shevchenko’s grappling. Another late takedown allowed the champion to dominate the final minute. Before the fifth round, Zhang’s corner urged her to wrestle, but attempts to clinch only played further into Shevchenko’s hands. A second clinch entry led to another takedown, and Zhang spent the final moments pinned to the canvas.
All three judges scored the fight 50 to 45, a result that saw Shevchenko tie the UFC women’s record for career title fight victories, level with Amanda Nunes.
“I was prepared for this fight as the hardest challenge in my life,” Shevchenko said afterwards. “I knew I could not rush with Weili because she has super punch knockout power, that is why I was using the distance and my wrestling.”
Zhang remained noncommittal on whether she will stay at flyweight or return to strawweight. “I am probably going to take a rest and think about it,” she said.
