This article details the co-main event taking place at UFC 315 at the Bell Centre in Montreal: the highly anticipated flyweight championship showdown between Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot. Valentina Shevchenko holds the No. 2 spot on MMA Fighting`s Pound-for-Pound list, while Manon Fiorot is ranked No. 3 in the flyweight division and No. 5 overall.
“Bullet” Shevchenko is currently in her second reign as the 125-pound champion. She successfully reclaimed the title from rival Alexa Grasso in their trilogy fight at UFC 306. This followed Grasso`s initial upset victory at UFC 285 and a subsequent controversial split draw in their rematch. In the decisive third bout, Shevchenko left no doubt about her divisional supremacy, utilizing dominant wrestling to secure a clear decision win and settle their rivalry. Her loss to Grasso stands as her only defeat since 2018.
Manon Fiorot did not simply wait for the Shevchenko-Grasso saga to conclude. Instead, she actively defended her position against other formidable contenders. Fiorot earned a unanimous decision victory over Rose Namajunas in Paris, effectively ending Namajunas`s aspiration to become a two-division champion. More recently, she successfully navigated the challenge posed by the highly-regarded Erin Blanchfield in the main event of UFC Atlantic City in March. Fiorot brings an impressive 12-fight winning streak into this contest, having remained undefeated since her professional debut, and now finally has her opportunity to prove she is the premier flyweight fighter in the world.
Marcus Blakely