Shevchenko extends her reign in UFC women’s flyweight division
Valentina Shevchenko defeated Manon Fiorot at UFC 315 to become the oldest fighter to defend a title below middleweight. The division also sees rising contenders like Natalia Silva and potential shifts in fighter pay following a $7.7 billion Paramount streaming deal.
Flyweight dominance in Montreal
Valentina Shevchenko’s dominance remains the defining feature of the flyweight division. She defeated Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision at UFC 315 on May 10 at the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This victory marked the first defense of her second flyweight title reign after she reclaimed the belt from Alexa Grasso at UFC 306. At 37 years old, Shevchenko became the oldest fighter, male or female, to successfully defend a title below the middleweight division. Valentina Shevchenko joined Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, and Amanda Nunes as the only fighters in UFC history to win ten title fights after she defeated Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision. You already know Shevchenko is a legend, but her ability to dominate at 125 pounds remains unexpected. Fiorot, a fighter from Nice, had not fought since her unanimous decision win over Erin Blanchfield in March. Shevchenko previously defended her title against Taila Santos at UFC 275. Some observers thought her loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 signaled a changing of the guard. Shevchenko also mentioned that a trilogy fight with Amanda Nunes makes sense, as she lost to Nunes at UFC 196 and UFC 215. Alexander Volkanovski could tie Shevchenko’s record this year when he turns 37 in September.
Contender paths and ranking metrics
Natalia Silva defeated Alexa Grasso at UFC 315, which places her in line for a potential super fight. Shevchenko expressed interest in fighting either Silva or strawweight champion Zhang Weili. Shevchenko believes she can overcome the tactical evolution seen in the recent performances of Weili. Fans frequently express dislike for the official UFC rankings because they rely on a voting panel or AI. A performance-based ranking system instead uses specific metrics to evaluate fighters:
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Activity Requirement | Must have fought within the last 12 months and not be suspended |
| Data Range | Points from the last 10 fights within a five-year limit |
| Scoring Basis | Opponent’s UFC win/loss record |
| Bonus Points | Awarded for finishes and title fights |
| Loss Penalty | Zero points given for a loss |
Will Shevchenko eventually seek the super fight against Zhang Weili? Silva remains a legitimate threat in the division. Fiorot, who last appeared in March against Erin Blanchfield, faces a challenge that resembles the last step before she regains a chance at the belt. The division also awaits a new queen in October between Natalia Silva and Cong Wang.
Financial shifts in the division
Dana White expects UFC bonuses to increase following a $7.7 billion multi-year deal to stream events on Paramount starting in 2026. White noted in August that the promotion has until January to figure out the specifics regarding fighter pay. The promotion currently provides four bonuses per event, which typically carry a value of $50,000. These payouts go to winning fighters who put on stunning performances or to a losing competitor who earns "Fight of the Night". Bonuses are not guaranteed, even for a winning competitor. This increase follows years of debate regarding fighter pay and a settlement in the Cung Le et al. v. Zuffa antitrust lawsuit. The claim that UFC used market dominance to pay its MMA fighters less than half as much as they otherwise would have received was a major basis for that lawsuit. The payout disparity between headliners and prelim fighters remains stark. For example, Rose Namajunas earned $500,000 at a recent Fight Night in Atlanta, while prelim fighter Rodolfo Bellato earned $12,000. This pay gap exists because states like Nevada do not require a promoter to disclose pay for an event. One study commissioned by the UFC in 2013 showed that roughly 18 percent of its revenue went to its athletes. This figure is much smaller than leagues like the NFL or NBA, where around 50 percent goes to the players.
