After flyweight title, Valentina Shevchenko already eyes 'revenge' with Amanda Nunes

AUSTIN, Texas – We all saw how great former UFC bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko looked in her debut as a flyweight for the promotion.

Just how good did she feel, though?

“In 135 fights, I was feeling (as strong), everything good,” Shevchenko told MMAjunkie in Austin, where she fulfilled guest fighter duties for UFC Fight Night 126. “But the difference is the size of opponents. At 125, it’s the same size like me. I know it’s the same power. Maybe a little bit taller, but in general, same, same. But 135, it’s every time, you have to see the difference.

“Because the opponents are heavier – a little bit taller, have longer arms – every time, it’s about tactics. You can’t apply all the techniques that you wish. At 125, I feel (as strong as) 135, but I can apply everything that I know from martial arts, without having too much risk.”

Given how her UFC Fight Night 125 appearance went down, Shevchenko means “everything that I know from martial arts” quite literally. Not content with bloodying up Priscila Cachoeira – as the ratio of 230-3 strikes landed can help illustrate – Shevchenko made sure to cap off a stellar performance by finishing the UFC newcomer on the ground.

While the battering did serve to show just how much of a force Shevchenko  is, not all storylines emerging from it were positive. Sure, there was a ton of praise for her, but mostly there was hefty criticism in regard to what happened before and during the fight.

Referee Mario Yamasaki was the recipient of most of it, for allowing the one-sided affair to go on for as long as it did. Cachoeira’s corners, too, caught some heat for not throwing the towel. And then the UFC was questioned for its decision to pair a top contender with a promotional newcomer who’d never been in the big stage before.

Shevchenko, who’s answered her fair share of questions about the whole thing already, believes there will be talk regardless of what happens – either if the stoppage was too early, or too late. But all the talk “doesn’t matter nothing,” when the fact is that she expected a worthy foe and prepared for it.

“My opponent, she was strong, but I gave everything from me,” Shevchenko said. “She was 8-0, so it says a lot. She had more victories by KO, TKO, so it says a lot, too. I was not expecting an easy match. That’s why my coach, he was preparing me with the same strength, the same power he was preparing me for each of my fights.

“That’s why I knew that harder training, it will be an easy fight. I gave everything from me. I left everything, all my power inside the octagon, and I took what I wanted to take.”

With a flawless flyweight debut in the bag, following a razor-thin split decision loss in a title effort against 135-pound champion Amanda Nunes (15-4 MMA, 8-1 UFC), Shevchenko’s (15-3 MMA, 4-2 UFC) expectations for her next step are no secret: a stab at recently-crowned 125-pound champ Nicco Montano (4-2 MMA, 1-0 UFC).

With Shevchenko ready to fight for that title “right now,” and UFC president Dana White’s confirmation that she “deserves the next title shot,” the fight seems to ride solely on “The Ultimate Fighter 26” winner Montano – who’s currently recovering from a foot injury sustained in her title bout against Roxane Modaffieri in December.

If the expected happens and that title fight is next, the circumstances around it will be unique. While Montano certainly earned her stripes, beating her fellow “TUF 27” castmates to become the division’s inaugural champ, Shevchenko is certainly the most recognizable face of the two fighters – not to mention the most battle-tested one; with wins over ex-bantamweight-champ Holly Holm and “TUF” winner and contender Julianna Pena, Shevchenko’s only octagon losses were in two close fights with Nunes in the upper division.

Still, when it comes to “uncrowned” champion talks, “Bullet” says slow your roll.

“I really appreciate that people speak like this,” Shevchenko said. “It means a lot to me. They believe in me, they follow me, and they support me. And I appreciate it, a lot. But the belt, when I will have the belt, now I can say yes. But we still have to plan the fight. I still have to prepare for the fight. For me, it’s like this: I see my goal in front of me, and I go for it.

“I never start feeling relaxed before I get it. No. That’s why, for me, I really appreciate all words. But I will continue all training, all strong preparation before I get what I want.”

That, of course, is the flyweight belt. But, as great as she’s feeling in her new weight class, Shevchenko is already plotting a move back up to bantamweight-land to meet a familiar foe, as well.

“I know the last time with Amanda, I know exactly I didn’t lose this fight,” Shevchenko said. “Everybody knows this. My plan is to have a few fights at 125 for now, and then go back and have my revenge – and have my revenge with Amanda.”

Is it personal? Meaning: Does Shevchenko want that third fight bad enough that Nunes doesn’t need to have the belt for it to happen?

“I don’t know what will happen in the future, how long she will hold the belt,” Shevchenko said. “But I see her holding for more time.”

To hear more from Valentina, check out the video above.

And for more on the UFC schedule, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.