2 Challengers that could beat Valentina Shevchenko in the UFC

Dominance is a criterion often used to judge greatness when it comes to the sport of mixed martial arts. One fighter who perfectly fits the same is Valentina Shevchenko. Through her performances in the octagon, Shevchenko has solidified her position as a dominant champion in the flyweight division.

'The Bullet' in her reign, has never lost. Being undefeated in the division, fans and pundits have the notion that Shevchenko may never be defeated and she might simply cruise through the competition. However, that might not be the case. The flyweight queen is surely not short of apt challengers to end her 9-fight win streak. In this article, we will look at two such contenders who have the potential to beat Valentina Shevchenko. 

Amanda Nunes

From 2011 to 2015, Valentina Shevchenko enjoyed an undefeated run in her MMA career. However, that changed when 'The Bullet'  lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 196. While she tried to make up for her loss in a rematch at UFC 215, Shevchenko once again came up short and eventually went down a division.

Since becoming flyweight champion, Shevchenko seems to be lacking competition. That's where Amanda Nunes comes into play. After her victory against 'The Bullet,' Nunes went on to become a two-division UFC champion.

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The Brazilian fighter who has already won twice against Shevchenko possesses a perfect mix of striking and grappling to trouble the 125-pound UFC champion. It will be interesting to see how 'The Bullet' deals with the same.

Taila Santos

Shevchenko's reign in the UFC flyweight division has been a delight to watch. While the fighter has cruised through the competition she has faced, 'The Bullet' found herself in the most trouble when she faced Taila Santos at UFC 275. 

Even though Santos couldn't earn the victory, she made a record of being the first fighter to win on a scorecard against Shevchenko in the flyweight division. The Brazilian fighter exhibited control and submission threats, but that wasn't enough to stop 'The Bullet.' Shevchenko won a split decision over Santos, but many believe that the Brazilian fighter could be a potential threat to the current flyweight champion's crown.

While it has been less than 2 months since her last fight, Shevchenko will have a decision to make on her future. Cementing her legacy in the flyweight division, or chasing a second title against Nunes, is a decision Shevchenko will have to make.

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