Valentina Shevchenko is preparing to defend her flyweight title against Manon Fiorot in the co-main event of UFC 315 this Saturday. While typically composed and respectful towards her opponents, “Bullet” has taken issue with what she perceives as disrespect from Fiorot.
Speaking at the UFC 315 Media Day, Shevchenko drew a clear distinction, stating, “I don’t think that it’s appropriate to compare myself to her, because I never will approach any of my opponents with so much disrespect that she did.”
Shevchenko`s concerns appear to stem from Fiorot`s comments made last year. Shortly after Shevchenko reclaimed her championship at UFC 306 from Alexa Grasso, “The Beast” called her out, publicly declaring her intention to retire the veteran champion. Shevchenko views this uncharacteristic trash talk from the usually quiet Fiorot as potentially driven by anxiety regarding her position in the title contender rankings.
Shevchenko felt the timing of Fiorot`s challenge was premature, noting it came just a month after her previous bout. However, she acknowledged that Fiorot might have been feeling desperate due to delays in her own path, concluding that ultimately, “everything… worked perfectly” in setting up their fight.
Regarding whether Fiorot`s words affected her, Shevchenko was dismissive. “Nothing,” she replied when asked. She highlighted her extensive martial arts background, which began at the age of five and included winning 17 world championships before joining the UFC. This vast experience, she explained, has exposed her to a multitude of personalities and verbal challenges. She believes that being easily bothered would have prevented her from achieving her success, identifying her key strength as the ability “to block all the energy that’s happening around and focus on your main goal.”
Despite her calm approach, “Bullet” admitted she anticipates enjoying the moment inside the cage when Fiorot, after expressing such confidence, must confront the reality and back up her claims. She looks forward to the process of humbling her opponent.
Shevchenko expressed satisfaction in facing opponents who exude confidence and predict finishes. For her, the most rewarding feeling is witnessing their frustration and the collapse of their strategies within the octagon when things don`t go as planned. Seeing them “breaking up” under pressure, she stated, provides the “best feeling.”
UFC 315 is scheduled for Saturday, May 10th, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec. The event is headlined by a welterweight championship bout between Belal Muhammad and Jack Della Maddalena.
