Valentina Shevchenko has owned the UFC women’s flyweight title since she defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk by decision in December 2018. Since that win, Shevchenko has successfully defended her title six times. On Saturday, she looks to make her seventh defense of the UFC women’s 125-pound crown when she faces Taila Santos in the co-main event of UFC 275.
Shevchenko, who is the No. 1 fighter in the official UFC women’s pound-for-pound rankings, says that one secret of her success is a decision she made early in her MMA career. That secret? Remove the things from her life that might sidetrack her from her goal of being the best fighter she could be.