Valentina Shevchenko UFC 322 Exclusive Interview

We caught up with Stake Ambassador and reigning UFC Women’s Flyweight and Pound-For-Pound Champion, Valentina Shevchenko, ahead of her blockbuster fight against Weili Zhang at UFC 322.

In this exclusive interview with Stake.com, we discussed how she’s been preparing for one of the fight’s of the year, as well as her career which has brought her to this moment.

If you beat Zhang, does this make you the female MMA GWOAT

I have never been the person to say this about myself. I let the fans do the talking. My thing is to win the fight and be the best. Win the fight and be better than I was yesterday. In terms of GWOAT talk, I will let the fans call me that.

How has sparring been? Will Weili Zhang handle your power?

My training camp has gone really well. I have had a lot of amazing training partners. I started my preparation with my trainer Pavol in Thailand. I have also been to Las Vegas and El Paso, Texas. Now I'm in New York, Jersey city and It's been a long and strong training camp. It has been just enough to be at the top level of speed, power and experience. All the knowledge I have gained in this training camp I will bring to the fight come November 15th.

Are there holes in the Weili's game that you can exploit?

There are a lot of holes in Weili Zhang's game and I will show on the day of the fight all of the holes.

Do you think you have reached the Top of MMA, is there anything you think you haven't achieved?

It is never enough. Sometimes you can think that there is a limit, there is a roof, there is a top, but once you hit that point there is always something else that you want to hit next. The most important thing to do is never stop. There is always another big thing coming. I don't know what it is yet but I know another challenge will come.

Will you fight Amanda Nunes again if she returns?

When it comes to Amanda Nunes, it will depend on what shape she returns to the octagon in. If she returns in 50% shape, I don't want that fight. I don't want to fight a fighter who is not at their best. I want to fight someone when they are at their best.

The UFC is constantly moving along and changing. Who are the current stars in your mind that are carrying the UFC?

All the champions there are the biggest stars already. All the names you can think about in the UFC, they are already stars. It doesn't matter if they are champions. If they are in the UFC, they are already stars.

The White House card is what everyone is talking about. Is this something you want to be a part of?

I would love to be a part of the historical White House event. We will see how everything goes. Like I say I have to take things one at a time. You never jump too high too soon. To make things right you have to move slowly and surely. UFC 322 is the number one target for me at the moment.

If it’s not yourself, who would you like to see headline the White House main event? Would you like to see Khabib or Jon Jones make a return?

It is so hard to make fights! The match-makers have a tough job, but I’ll leave it to the professionals. It’s doubtful that Khabib will return, because he promised to his Father that he would retire, and it is important for him to keep his word, so I can’t see him returning. But the event is going to be amazing.

How important was your time in Peru to shape you to the fighter you are today?

I lived for eight years in Peru and had an amazing time. I lived in both Lima and in the Amazon Rainforest. I loved being in and around nature, often I would spend my afternoon fishing for piranhas in the Amazon river! The culture and the people are brilliant.

Peruvian MMA is on the rise, how proud are you to have played a part in this growth?

I am very proud. When I first got to Peru, we started to develop and teach Muay-Thai, giving masterclasses throughout the country. The Peruvian people always wanted to learn and I am happy that I was able to share my knowledge of the sport with them.

For young martial artists, how important is travelling to new places to experience new things within the sport?

It is so important because it is not just great to experience a new culture, but in fact to train with new people who have different techniques. Travelling and training around the world enables you to train and spar with people who have a range of skills.

Where has your favourite place been that you have travelled to?

It is impossible to say one place! Everywhere I go has a very unique and special energy. Thailand will also be a special place for me, particularly because of Muay-Thai and how long I trained there for.

Two years ago we made a trip to French Polenysia, American Samoa, Fiji. This was one of the most beautiful trips, the people were so welcoming and friendly.

Mackenzie Dern was recently crowned Strawweight Champion. Do you see her as a challenge in the future?

She is a great grappler and fighter. Her career has been brilliant and I congratulate her for her recent title victory. For now though, there are some defences that have to be made! Maybe after a few more fights we can come back to this question!