In a stunning display of skill and resilience, Valentina Shevchenko reaffirmed her dominance in the women’s flyweight division.
Stepping into the octagon against Manon Fiorot, Shevchenko (25-4-1 MMA, 14-3-1 UFC) was primed for the first defense of her newly reclaimed title. This flyweight championship bout was the highlight of UFC 315, taking place at the iconic Bell Centre in Montreal. After an intense 25-minute battle, the judges saw fit to award Shevchenko a unanimous decision victory, each score reading 48-47.
Fiorot, determined from the outset, sought to control the pace, but Shevchenko’s sharp counterstrikes quickly turned the tide. As the action progressed, Fiorot became more strategic in her approach. Yet, it was Shevchenko’s striking that left a mark, with a notable overhand right that opened up a cut on Fiorot’s nose. In a tactical move, Shevchenko sought ground control late in the round, showcasing her grappling prowess.
As the second round unfolded, Fiorot adjusted her strategy, targeting takedowns. Her initial attempts faltered, allowing Shevchenko to maintain her rhythm. However, Fiorot managed to score a takedown during her third attempt, though she struggled to capitalize on the ground game. In a controversial moment toward the end of the round, Fiorot delivered an illegal knee strike to the grounded Shevchenko—an occurrence that referee Marc Goddard let slide without a stoppage or warning.
With the fight hanging in the balance after a tightly contested first ten minutes, Fiorot pressed on, pushing the action. A perfectly timed spinning backfist from the champion forced Fiorot to shoot for another takedown, which Shevchenko skillfully defended, countering with powerful strikes as she disengaged.
As Round 4 commenced, Shevchenko exhibited a newfound urgency, delivering an impressive wheel kick that showcased her striking versatility. Fiorot attempted to clinch against the cage to halt Shevchenko’s momentum, but the champion was relentless. A subsequent takedown attempt from Shevchenko fell short, although she landed a beautiful spinning kick to Fiorot’s midsection shortly thereafter. With just a minute remaining, Shevchenko executed a takedown, but struggled to maintain dominion on the ground.
In a pivotal moment just before the round concluded, Shevchenko caught Fiorot with a counter right hand, sending the challenger crashing to the canvas. Shevchenko wasted no time in delivering a flurry of follow-up punches, but the bell rang, leaving fans breathless.
With just five minutes left on the clock, the championship hung delicately in the balance. Shevchenko, sharper and more precise, maintained her distance as Fiorot attempted to close in. The crowd, sensing the urgency, grew restless with Fiorot’s clinch tactics as the final minute approached. They separated for a brief exchange of strikes, but neither fighter landed any decisive blows to sway the judges.
When the final bell rang, the judges agreed that Shevchenko had done enough to secure her title reign, marking her first successful defense after regaining the belt from Alexa Grasso in a trilogy battle at UFC 306 last September.
On the other side, Fiorot faced her second professional setback. Her only previous defeat came during her debut, but she had fought valiantly, vanquishing 12 opponents in a row to earn her shot at the title.
Up-to-the-minute UFC 315 results
- Valentina Shevchenko def. Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
- Aiemann Zahabi def. Jose Aldo via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Natalia Silva def. Alexa Grasso via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Benoit Saint Denis def. Kyle Prepolect via submission (arm triangle) – Round 2, 2:35
- Mike Malott def. Charles Radtke via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 0:26
- Jasmine Jasudavicius def. Jessica Andrade via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:40
- Modestas Bukauskas def. Ion Cutelaba via split decision (27-30, 30-27, 29-28)
- Navajo Stirling def. Ivan Erslan via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
- Marc-Andre Barriault def. Bruno Silva via KO (punches) – Round 1, 1:27
- Daniel Santos def. Jeong Yeong Lee via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
- Bekzat Almakhan def. Brad Katona via KO (punch) – Round 1, 1:04
