Valentina Shevchenko Biography: Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height, Awards, Spouse

Valentina Anatolyevna Shevchenko is a professional mixed martial artist from Kyrgyzstan with a background in Muay Thai and kickboxing.

She currently competes in the women’s Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where she is a two-time reigning UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion.

She is also the first fighter from Kyrgyzstan and Peru to capture a UFC championship.

As of September 17, 2024, she holds the #1 spot in the UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings.

Profile

• Full Name: Valentina Anatolyevna Shevchenko
• Stage Name: Valentina Shevchenko
• Born: March 7 1988
• Age: 36 years old
• Birthplace: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
• Nationality: Kyrgyz, Peruvian, Russian
• Occupation: Kyrgyz mixed martial artist
• Height: 1.65 m
• Parents: Elena Shevchenko and Anatoly Shevchenko
• Siblings: Antonina Shevchenko
• Spouse: Unknown
• Children: Unknown
• Relationship: Unmarried
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life And Education

Valentina Anatolyevna Shevchenko was born on March 7, 1988, in Frunze, Kirghiz SSR, Soviet Union (now Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan). She is the daughter of Anatoly and Elena Shevchenko. Her mother, Elena, is a former Muay Thai champion and president of Kyrgyzstan’s national Muay Thai organization.

Valentina’s father, Anatoly, had a distinguished career in the Soviet Navy’s Pacific Fleet and played football for the Kyrgyzstan national team. Valentina has one older sibling, Antonina Shevchenko, who is also involved in martial arts, competing in both Muay Thai and mixed martial arts.

Shevchenko pursued higher education and earned an undergraduate degree in film directing from the National Academy of Arts of the Kyrgyz Republic. In recognition of her academic achievements, the same institution honored her with the title of Honored Professor in December 2021. Valentina Shevchenko identifies as Russian, reflecting her cultural background and Kyrgyz heritage.

Career

Valentina Shevchenko’s martial arts journey began early, influenced by her mother, a former Muay Thai champion. At five, she trained in Taekwondo before transitioning to Muay Thai and kickboxing.

By age 15, Shevchenko made her professional mixed martial arts (MMA) debut, securing a TKO victory against Eliza Aidaralieva on April 21, 2003. Over the next few years, she competed in various regional promotions, remaining undefeated in her first six bouts before taking a brief hiatus to focus on her striking career.

Shevchenko returned to MMA in 2010, making her U.S. debut against Liz Carmouche. Despite dominating the fight, she suffered a controversial TKO loss due to a doctor stoppage following an illegal up-kick. She bounced back in 2011 with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Akjarkyn Baiturbaeva.

After taking another break to compete in amateur Muay Thai, Shevchenko returned to MMA in 2013, achieving two TKO victories within just two months under Fusion FC. Her impressive performances led to her signing with Legacy Fighting Championship (LFC) in 2014, where she won a unanimous decision against Jan Finney, which helped secure her UFC contract by late 2015.

Once in the UFC, Shevchenko quickly made her mark in the women’s bantamweight division, facing high-profile opponents such as Sarah Kaufman and Holly Holm. In March 2016, she fought Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title but lost by unanimous decision.

Undeterred, Shevchenko moved to the flyweight division, where her career flourished. In December 2018, she won the vacant UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship against Joanna Jedrzejczyk unanimously, becoming the first fighter from Kyrgyzstan and Peru to capture a UFC title.

She defended her title against challengers like Jessica Eye and Jennifer Maia before facing Alexa Grasso in 2023. She lost the flyweight title to Grasso by submission at UFC 285, and their rematch in September 2023 ended in a split draw.

However, Shevchenko regained the title on September 15, 2024, defeating Grasso unanimously at UFC 306. Throughout her career, Shevchenko has excelled in multiple disciplines, including kickboxing and boxing, where she has earned several high-level titles.

Her striking ability and her grappling skills have made her one of the most well-rounded fighters in women’s MMA. As of early February 2025, Shevchenko is recognized as one of the top pound-for-pound female fighters globally, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer for women in sports and martial arts.

Awards and Nominations

MMA Awards

• UFC Women’s Flyweight Championship (Two times, current)

World MMA Awards

• 2022: Female Fighter of the Year

Combat Press

• 2020: Female Fighter of the Year

Cageside Press

• 2020: Female Fighter of the Year

BT Sport

• 2020: Female Fighter of the Year
• 2021: Female Fighter of the Year

UFC Honors

• Performance of the Night (Three times)
• Most title wins in UFC Women’s Flyweight division history (9)
• Most consecutive title defenses in UFC Women’s Flyweight division history (7)
• Most total fight time in UFC Women’s Flyweight division history (3:42:47)
• Second most title fight wins in UFC women’s history (9)

Muay Thai Achievements

• Multiple gold medals at the IFMA World Championships (2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014)

Social Media

• Instagram handle: @bulletvalentina
• Facebook handle: Valentina Shevchenko
• Twitter handle: @BulletValentina
• TikTok handle: @bulletvalentina

Personal Life

Valentina Shevchenko is currently unmarried and has openly stated that she is single. Despite her prominence as a mixed martial artist, she maintains a private personal life, keeping details about her relationships out of the public eye.

In previous comments, she has humorously affirmed her single status, highlighting her dedication to her MMA career over romantic endeavors.

Net Worth

Valentina Shevchenko’s net Worth is estimated at around $5 million as of 2025. This wealth is primarily attributed to her successful UFC career, including substantial fight purses and bonuses.

Additionally, she benefits from endorsement deals with brands like GuardLab, Brownells, and Smith & Wesson Corp., contributing significantly to her income. Her financial success underscores her position as one of the top female fighters in MMA history, known for her skill and marketability.