Since the issue that took place at UFC 228 with the Former-Flyweight Champion Nicco Montano being stripped of her title for not making weight and being able to fight many have wondered what is going to happen with the Challenger Valentina Shevchenko. With her already being originally booked to fight for the title everyone knew she would be one of the fighters competing for the now vacant UFC Flyweight Championship. But the question is when? And who? We now know who will more than likely be on the opposite side of the cage that night, the former-bantamweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
Joanna has confirmed in a few recent interviews that this will most likely be her next fight considering that Jessica Andrade will be the one to face the current Bantamweight Champion Rose Namajunas next after she brutally knocked out Karolina Kowalkiewicz at UFC 228. The former Bantamweight Queen has already faced Valentina Shevchenko twice back in their Muay Thai days but ultimately lost 3 times.
Joanna also believes that it was very fair of the UFC to strip Nicco of her belt when it comes to everything that was going on. She also believes that if the fight is going to take place, it will definitely happen this year. Valentina Shevchenko has shown interest in this bout as she is ready to claim what she feels is rightfully hers.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has 1 win and 2 losses in her last 3 fights. With both of those losses coming from her 2 fights with Rose Namajunas. She recently fought at UFC on Fox: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2 when she gained a unanimous decision victory over Tecia Torres. She was originally aiming to get that 3rd match with champ Rose Namajunas, but it seems that Rose is not interested especially considering she has defeated Joanna twice.
Before losing to Rose Najunas the first time, Joanna was on a 14 fight win streak before losing the title. She hopes and looks to build the flyweight division around her if she wants to pursue the UFC Woman's Flyweight Champion.
Valentina Shevchenko is 2-1 in her last 3 fights with that loss being at the hands of the UFC Woman's Bantamweight Champion Amanda Nunes who will be taking on the UFC Featherweight Champion Cris Cyborg at the end of this year. Valentina Shevchenko's most recent victory is over Priscila Cachoeira that was a vicious dominating victory with her outstriking Priscilla 230 punches to Priscilla's 3. Valentina has been frustrated as of late because she feels that this was Nicco's plan all along to avoid the fight. But ultimately didn't expect to get stripped of the UFC Flyweight championship.
Valentina truly feels that the belt is hers. A fight with the former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be beyond amazing when you consider how much both of these fighters have grown since they met 3 times in their Muay Thai days. It would be a nice addition to the already amazing UFC 230 Madison Square Garden Card or to also close out the year with.
