5 reasons why Valentina Shevchenko should move to bantamweight if she wins at UFC 275

#2. There are fresh fights for Valentina Shevchenko in the 135-pound division that don’t involve the bantamweight title

Irene Aldana and Ketlen Vieira could both be intriguing opponents for Valentina Shevchenko at 135lbs

The biggest issue for Valentina Shevchenko at 125 pounds has been the lack of really eye-catching fights for her, despite her status as reigning flyweight champion. Sure, her next opponent,Taila Santos, is on a four-fight win streak, but she still feels little more than a “contender of the month” type.

The likes of Jennifer Maia, Lauren Murphy and Katlyn Chookagian, meanwhile, simply didn’t move the needle either. While Jessica Andrade was considered dangerous, even she was never a true star per say.

At 135 pounds, though, that’d be very different. Even ignoring the UFC bantamweight title for a moment, there are plenty more intriguing fights for ‘Bullet’ if she were to move up in weight.

Bouts with Ketlen Vieira, Irene Aldana and a rematch with Holly Holm would all be intriguing, and obviously, a clash with Julianna Pena or a trilogy bout with Amanda Nunes would definitely get the blood of the fans pumping.

At 125 pounds, on the other hand, the better prospects are probably a couple of years away from a crack at the champion, meaning that if she stays, Shevchenko will end up in the same spot that former men’s flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson once was – fighting in bouts with no jeopardy.

With that considered, a move up in weight has to be a no-brainer for ‘Bullet’.

---

#1. Valentina Shevchenko has nothing left to prove at flyweight

After destroying most of her opponents, Valentina Shevchenko has nothing left to prove at 125lbs

Given that she’s already defended her UFC flyweight title on six occasions after claiming it in December 2018, it’s probably safe to say that Valentina Shevchenko has absolutely nothing left to prove at 125 pounds.

If she were to defeat Taila Santos and continue to fight in the weight class, then, who would be next for her?

Judging by the UFC’s current rankings, then the most likely next fresh title challenger would be Alexa Grasso, who is currently ranked at No.5 and is on a three-fight win streak. However, despite her improving skills, the Mexican would simply not be considered a tricky opponent for ‘Bullet’.

The wild card could be former bantamweight queen Miesha Tate, who is set to fight at 125 pounds for the first time in July when she faces Lauren Murphy. However, ‘Cupcake’ is arguably past her prime now and wouldn’t be favored against Shevchenko even if she’s got name value.

The truth is that the better prospects in the division – Maycee Barber, Casey O’Neill and Manon Fiorot – are still some way from earning a title shot, and O’Neill, arguably the best of the three, is currently rehabbing a serious knee injury.

Those fighters would probably come to the forefront in a post-Shevchenko division, but for now, beating them wouldn’t mean a lot to ‘Bullet’. Essentially, Shevchenko has cleaned out this division – and needs to move up to find a new challenge.