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#4. Both Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko need to retain their unbeatable auras
While Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko are definitely both amongst the best fighters in the UFC right now and are arguably the two best female fighters in UFC history, it’s probably not unfair to suggest that neither is a true superstar.
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Where the likes of Conor McGregor and the Diaz brothers appear to be able to retain their drawing power regardless of their results in the octagon, fighters like Nunes and Shevchenko are a little different.
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Sure, they’re treated as big stars by the UFC and by the fans right now, but that’s only because they’re world class fighters operating at the top of their game. If either woman loses, any star power that they currently hold would likely be shattered to a certain extent.
With that in mind, booking a fight between them would be highly dangerous, simply because it would mean that one of the two would have to lose. If Nunes came out on top, then UFC fans would probably look down on Shevchenko as a champion who simply walked over a weak weight class.
If the 'Lioness' were to lose, then her whole persona as the greatest female fighter in MMA history would be gone. Simply put, there’s too much to risk for both women in a fight like this and so the UFC would be best to avoid it altogether.
#3. There are viable opponents in the UFC for both Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko
Many UFC fans would probably claim that both Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko have cleaned out their respective divisions, but in fact, that’s not entirely true. Sure, it’s safe to say that neither woman has truly been challenged in a long time, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t viable contenders out there and the UFC’s own ranking system proves that.
Nunes admittedly has no prospective opponents at 145 pounds, meaning her UFC featherweight title is little more than a vanity belt at this stage. But at 135 pounds, that’s not the case at all.
Not only does she have a fight with the No.5-ranked Julianna Pena coming up, but she also has yet to face off with No.4-ranked Irene Aldana, No.6-ranked Yana Kunitskaya and No.7-ranked Ketlen Vieira, as well as hot prospect Aspen Ladd.
Shevchenko has been slightly more dominant over her division, as she holds wins over the No.1, No.2, No.3, No.4 and No.8 fighters in the flyweight category. However, young prospects such as Alexa Grasso, Miranda Maverick and Maycee Barber could easily develop into viable challengers for her in the near future.
Would any of the afore-mentioned fighters provide a challenge to Nunes and Shevchenko like a fight between each other would? Well, no, but that’s not the point. Both women still have viable challengers out there, meaning it’s worth keeping them apart for the time being.
