Valentina Shevchenko Net Worth 2024, Height, Age, Partner, and More

Who is Valentina Shevchenko?

Valentina Shevchenko is a former UFC flyweight champion and one of the greatest women fighters to ever grace the Octagon. She started training in Taekwondo at the age of five and eventually transitioned to Muay Thai and Kickboxing.

Over the years, Valentina Shevchenko made her name as one of the most feared fighters in the UFC's female roster. Currently, she is the #1 ranked fighter in the UFC women's Flyweight Division. 'Bullet' also holds the #3 spot in the UFC women's pound-for-pound rankings.

Valentina Shevchenko's Early Life

'Bullet' was born in Bishkek in the Soviet province of Kyrgyzstan on March 7, 1988. She began her martial arts journey at the tender age of 5, thanks to the influence of her elder sister Antonina, and her mother Elena. She started off with taekwondo at 5, and branched off into Muay Thai, and Kickboxing, and later into free-style Vale Tudo by the time she was 12.

She began her kickboxing career at age 12 by knocking out a 22-year-old opponent. Her former trainer Pavel Fedotov gave her the name 'Bullet' because of her speed in the ring.

The Shevchenko sisters lived in Sochi, Russia with their mother but their training took them to Thailand. They moved around Thailand, Korea, Italy, France, China, Greece, and the Netherlands competing at amateur and later at professional levels. A mugging incident eventually forced Valentina to pursue a living outside Russia and she chose Peru.

The former UFC champion had visited the country in 2007 after winning the World Muay Thai championship. She took to the country after visiting Peru with her sister and their coach Fedotov to teach kickboxing classes. "Peru is a beautiful country that has it all ... beach, mountains and jungle. I love its people, landscapes, and cuisine," Shevchecnko once said. She would eventually get Peruvian citizenship as well.

Shevchenko had over 500 amateur fights in different combat styles.  She was the World Muay Thai Federation champion in 2006, gold medalist at the IFMA championships in 2003, 2006, 2009, and 2011. She is also a two-time (2003 and 2006) World Pankration champion.  She defeated Alfia Ishirgakova of Russia in the semifinal and El Majydy Aicha of Morocco in the final at the IFMA World Muay Thai Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan in September 2011.

Her professional boxing debut was on May 8, 2010, against against Brazil's Halana Dos Santos. 'Bullet' won a unanimous decision after a gritty 10-round bout (96-94, 100-90, 100-90).

Besides teaching Muay Thai, Vale Tudo, and other martial arts competitions, Valentina also teaches Russian folk dancing, belly dancing and gypsy dances. Her favorite is the Iezginka dance from southern Russia which was used to prepare warriors for combat.

Valentina Shevchenko's Partner

There were a number of rumors in the UFC world that labeled 'Bullet's' longtime instructor, Pavel Fedotov as her partner. Fedotov met Shevchenko when she was just 12 years old. He has also been with her on her journey from Kyrgyzstan to Peru and then to the UFC. But there are no reports mentioning that the two are in a relationship.

https://twitter.com/BulletValentina/status/961073010454269952

Fedotov is more like a father figure to Shevchenko and her sister. However, the former champion recently raised eyebrows after being spotted with a big name 'date' at UFC 300!

Arizona Cardinals' QB Kyler Murray shared a picture of him sitting next to Valentina. He captioned it, “My date is whooping any of yall’s a**..🥰 #UFC300.” It is unclear if the two were actually on a date or if Murray was just joking around.

There were also rumors of Shevchenko being involved in an intimate capacity with current UFC champion Jon Jones. The pair reportedly shared accommodations for UFC 285, further raising eyebrows. The only sources of these rumors are Chael Sonnen and Andrew Schulz, both of whom conjectured that Shevchenko disrupted a romantic situation between Jon Jones and Holly Holm.

Fedotov is more like a father figure to Shevchenko and her sister, and there are no solid claims about any of the other rumored love interests. Presently, there are no reports about 'Bullet' currently being involved in any romantic relationship as well. She is currently single and doesn't have any kids.

Valentina Shevchenko's Net Worth 2024

Like every other UFC fighter, Shevchenko also earns her salary per fight. Her income might also change from one fight to another. Reports say that she comes under the $500,000 salary belt of the UFC and has also earned the same amount for her last two fights. Her second biggest payday stands at around $1,267,000 (inclusive of bonuses) which she earned in her first bout against Alexa Grasso at UFC 285.

For UFC 261, Shevchenko was one of the three title fights that headlined the card. She received a staggering $1,192,000 (inclusive of bonuses) making it her highest UFC paycheck to date.

UFC 266, she earned $892,000 (inclusive of bonuses) and her total UFC 275 payout was around $472,000 dollars. She has an estimated net worth of over $5 million, according to multiple sources.

Valentina Shevchenko's Career Timeline

After amassing an MMA record of 11-1, Shevchenko made it to the UFC. Although she won her first fight, 'Bullet' lost her next bout to 'The Lioness' Amanda Nunes. To this date, Nunes is one of only three women (the other two being Liz Carmouche and Alexa Grasso) to beat the Kyrgyzstani.

Shevchenko racked up two back-to-back wins against Holly Holm and Julianna Pena. After that, she fought Nunes once again for the bantamweight strap at UFC 215: Nunes vs. Shevchenko 2. Unfortunately, she lost via a controversial decision.

Nevertheless, the UFC introduced the women's flyweight division soon after. As a result, Shevchenko returned to her original weight class and submitted Priscila Cachoeira via a rear-naked choke. She then fought Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant flyweight belt at UFC 231. Like their previous three meetings in amateur Muay Thai, Shevchenko won the match and the belt.

Since then, she has defended it seven times. Her last UFC Flyweight title defense came against Taila Santos on June 11, 2022, at UFC 275. Following this victory, Shevchenko endured a crushing defeat in her next bout. The noted Mexican Flyweight, Alexa Grasso, submitted her via a face crank in the fourth round of their UFC 285 fight.

Grasso also kept the UFC Flyweight gold from Shevchenko in their rematch that went down at UFC Noche (UFC Fight Night 227). At the coveted T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, on September 16, 2023, Grasso fought Shevchenko to a controversial draw. One of the three judges scored the final round 10-8 for Grasso, raising several eyebrows and evening out the tally. The other two scorecards were 47-48 and 48-47 apiece, meaning even a 10-9 score in favor of Grasso from the third judge would have also given Shevchenko her title back.

Now, the pair are set to clash once more on the Mexican Independence Day event of the UFC - UFC 306, later rebranded Riyadh Season Noche UFC. The co-main event at the Las Vegas Sphere on September 14 will see Grasso and Shevchenko vie for the title for the third time in a row. The pair have laid foundation for their trilogy bout with a stint on The Ultimate Fighter 32.

Valentina Shevchenko’s UFC Career Stats and Record

Shevchenko currently boasts a 12-3-1 record in the UFC. 'Bullet is only the second-ever UFC women's flyweight champion, behind Nicco Montaño. Shevchenko was also one of the longest-reigning women's champions with 7 title defenses to her name. She has 4 KO/TKO wins and 2 submission wins in the UFC.

Valentina Shevchenko’s Major Achievements and Awards

MMA

Most title wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (8)
Most consecutive title defenses in the UFC Women's Flyweight division history (7)
Most consecutive single title defenses by a woman in UFC history (7)
Second most combined title defenses by a woman in UFC history (7)
First woman to defend the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship
Performance of the Night (Three times)
Tied (Katlyn Cerminara) for most wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (9)
Most consecutive wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history (9)
Most knockout wins in UFC Women's Flyweight division history

BT Sport
2020 Female Fighter of the Year
2021 Female Fighter of the Year

Daily Mirror
2021 Female Fighter of the Year

World MMA Awards
2022 Female Fighter of the Year

KICKBOXING

Kunlun Fight Women's Lightweight Champion
2014 Kunlun Fight Female -60kg Tournament Champion
2013 World K-1 Champion WKC, Peru (60 kg)
2013 World K-1 Champion WKC, Mexico (60 kg)
And many more

Judo
2002 Kyrgyzstan National Champion (58 kg)

BOXING

2007 Russian Women's National Amateur Champion (57 kg)[122]

TAEKWONDO

2005 ITF and WTF European Championship, Gold Medal (58 kg)
2005 ITF and WTF European Championship Team Pattern, Gold Medal
2003 ITF World Championship, Bronze Medal (58 kg)
2002 ITF Asian Championship, Gold Medal (58 kg)

MUAY THAI

2015 I.F.M.A. Royal World Cup Tournament Championship (60 kg)
2014 I.F.M.A. World Championship (60 kg)
2013 World Combat Games, Muay Thai Gold Medalist (60 kg)
2012 WMC Muaythai Female Super Lightweight World Champion[127]
2012 I.F.M.A. World Championship (60 kg)оо
2011 I.F.M.A. World Championship, Silver Medal (60 kg)
And many more

SH-8 Valentina Shevchenko’s Titles

UFC Women's Flyweight Championship (One time, former)
Seven successful title defenses

Valentina Shevchenko’s Social Media Accounts