Valentina Shevchenko Beats Manon Fiorot By UD to Retain Flyweight Title at UFC 315

Valentina Shevchenko defeated Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision to retain the flyweight title in the co-main event of UFC 315.

The champion, "Bullet" Shevchenko, entered Saturday's matchup at Bell Centre in Montreal as the underdog against the hungry challenger.

In the first round, Shevchenko came out aggressive, landing 40 total strikes—eight of them significant—including a brutal shot that split Fiorot’s nose. Fiorot responded with 17 total strikes, nine of which were significant, but was clearly outpaced early.

Rounds two and three showcased Fiorot’s best abilities as she controlled the pace with crisp striking and well-timed takedowns, gradually chipping away at Shevchenko’s early momentum. The champion showed flashes of her trademark defense in return.

In the fourth, Shevchenko spent a chunk of the round pinned against the cage, fending off Fiorot’s pressure. But in classic “Bullet” fashion, she flipped the script late—landing a pair of powerful kicks and securing a takedown. With under 10 seconds left, Shevchenko connected with a clean right hand that dropped Fiorot to the canvas, leaving the challenger dazed as the horn sounded. Fiorot was saved by the bell, no question.

Much of the fifth round saw Shevchenko once again pressed against the fence, as Fiorot racked up nearly two minutes of control time. With the clock winding down, both fighters emptied the tank—trading wild haymakers in the final 20 seconds to the roar of the Bell Centre crowd. It was a gritty finish to a grueling battle that ultimately went to the judges’ scorecards.

All three judges scored the bout 48-47 in favor of Shevchenko, who retained her title via unanimous decision after a grueling five-round war.

Shevchenko entered UFC 315 with a 24-4-1 professional record, with eight wins via TKO, seven by submission, and six coming in the first round, showcasing her wide array of skills rooted in her extensive Muay Thai background.

The 37-year-old has a long history as a champion, first claiming the Flyweight championship in December 2018 against Joanna Jędrzejczyk. She then went on to defend the title seven times, holding it until June 2022.

She lost the belt to her rival Alexa Grasso in a submission loss in March 2023. The two fought again a few months later, ending in a draw with Grasso retaining the belt. Their most recent bout saw Shevchenko defeating Grasso by unanimous decision in September 2024.

Her fight against Fiorot marked her first title defense since reclaiming the belt from Grasso last year.

Fiorot holds a professional record of 12-1, with her last five victories coming by unanimous decision. She has secured six wins via TKO, showcasing her dominant boxing background. 

Fiorot has a championship history, though not within the UFC, having claimed titles against Amanda Lino in 2019 and Gabriela Campo in 2020.