What’s next for Valentina Schevchenko?

When not putting on amazing performances in the UFC Octagon Valentina Schevchenko has many hobbies including dancing, shooting, and mastering new languages. Schevchenko appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience MMA show last Friday on Spotify. Rogan and Schevchenko’s conversation was very in depth and covered a variety of topics including her training and other aspects that make her tick and contribute to her dominance over the UFC’s Women’s Flyweight division a division Schevchenko has held the title in for three years with six title defenses.

Rogan asked Schevchenko pretty much point blank what was next for her and a possible rematch with Amanda Nunes, a fighter she fought and lost twice before at Bantamweight. Which makes one question what is next for Schevchenko as she’s cleared out her Flyweight division? Is there anyone left for the Bullet? Would a Super fight with Amanda Nunes be worth it for her and the promotion even though Nunes has beat her in their two meetings? The Nunes question is easily answered because not only do UFC fans want to see it happen, but it seems like the second fight between the two fighters was closer than people think which would warrant a rematch. The only person in the MMA world that doesn’t want to see it is Chael Sonnen.

Schevchenko faced Lauren Murphy at UFC 266 in September. She put on a dominant performance against Murphy winning by TKO in the fourth round. Schevchenko outclassed Murphy and has been doing that to every fighter she’s faced. When she faced Jéssica Andrade people wondered how her ground game would hold up and she outgrappled Andrade. Schevchenko is a wrecking machine and it seems like there’s no one left that has an answer to the puzzle on how to beat her much the way Nunes is in the Bantamweight division. 

If Schevchenko stayed in the Flyweight division there are two rematches that I think make sense the first would be against Katlyn Chookagian.  Chookagian is currently ranked second in the Flyweight Division.  Chookagian is a Brown Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and it would make for a great fight. Plus fans love a striker vs. grappler matchup. The rematch that would also make sense is a fight with number one ranked Flyweight Jessica Andrade.  Andrade is coming off a win against Cynthia Calvillo at UFC 266. This matchup again would be a striker vs grappler matchup with Andrade holding a Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. But the tricky thing about Schevchenko is that she can finish someone on the ground too with seven of her 22 wins coming by way of submission.

No matter who is next for Schevchenko, everyone will be watching. Schevchenko is hoping that she will remain champion, and maybe a two Division Champion much like Nunes. We will see how it plays out.