Valentina Shevchenko fires again at critics of UFC 322 win: 'They do not know martial arts'

[ad_1] Should you did not know by now, Valentina Shevchenko is among the biggest fighters of all time. At UFC 322 this previous Saturday, the reigning two-time UFC flyweight champion additional cemented her standing.

Shevchenko cruised to a shutout victory in her much-anticipated conflict with former two-time strawweight champion Zhang Weili. At 37 years previous, Shevchenko arguably regarded higher than ever regardless of coming into the bout as a betting underdog. Nevertheless, her lopsided efficiency did not come with out criticism, drawing fan backlash for a wrestling-heavy method that some complained lacked pleasure.

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Talking Tuesday on "The Ariel Helwani Present," Shevchenko provided a becoming response.

"You can't be good for everybody," Shevchenko stated. "You possibly can see the very best strikers, they can't be good for everybody. You are two-sided — who says sure and who says no. You need to select what you wish to do. You can not please everybody. No, it would not work like this. It isn't solely in martial arts, it isn't solely in MMA. You need to select what you stand for and preserve being your self.

"You can not [get] mad at somebody as a result of they've totally different opinions, or as a result of they [don't] have sufficient expertise or they do not know martial arts. You can't be mad about them. they are going to come to you. It would take time, however they are going to perceive martial arts for this second.

"It would not matter at this level. [The reaction has been] extra sure than no, that is what issues."

Shevchenko has lengthy been the uncommon champion who can cancel out the noise, however even she caught wind of the whispers earlier than UFC 322, with many believing it to be a foregone conclusion that Zhang would stroll away with a second belt. A lot of those self same voices have continued to rely her out since her shut struggle with Taila Santos in 2022, however Shevchenko stated her confidence by no means as soon as wavered. She's nicely conscious of the expertise she's had all through basically her total life, regardless of the imposing résumé Zhang carried.

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"I knew about what folks have been saying and it is resulting in the combat," Shevchenko stated. "Everybody was praising [Zhang] and saying, 'Oh, they're the identical measurement. Weili is so sturdy, she's so explosive, so quick, so every little thing.' Yeah, undoubtedly they are going to say it as a result of she was displaying such superb fights towards her different opponents, but it surely does not imply that she's going to do the identical towards me. As a result of [I am] not the opposite opponents. [I am] me. [I am] 'The Bullet.' I've fully totally different abilities, pace, power.

"For folks, it is arduous to think about how it is going to go and to see the truth. However particularly professionals, who know martial arts actually good from the within, they undoubtedly noticed the truth very clear."

After her massive win, Shevchenko as soon as once more finds herself within the driver's seat at 125 kilos and asking the query of who's subsequent. She's been there and carried out that a number of instances over, with 9 whole title defenses to her identify. All opponents have been conquered in her profession — aside from one fellow GOAT.

Shevchenko acknowledges there are high flyweight contenders like Brazil's Natalia Silva who're justifiably ready within the wings, however the return of previous rival Amanda Nunes — who beat her twice in 2016-17 throughout Shevchenko's bantamweight days — is an attractive proposition. Shevchenko has by no means critically thought of a return to 135 kilos since dropping down in 2018, however she'd fortunately welcome Nunes to flyweight — particularly after Nunes teased that potential transfer on social media following UFC 322.

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Then there's present UFC bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison, who is predicted to face Nunes first upon the Corridor of Famer's return subsequent yr. Each choices are interesting to Shevchenko.

"Let's do it, Amanda. Come on. 125," Shevchenko stated. "Yeah, let's do it. Perhaps Kayla Harrison will wish to go all the way down to 125 and do it as nicely. I welcome everybody.

"For now, [Nunes] likes to speak so much, and he or she feels safe whenever you're behind the wall and nobody can get to you. She's nonetheless form of within the half of her retirement, nonetheless saying that she's coming again however nothing certain [is booked] but. She feels secure to talk now, and that is why you can't by no means belief when folks communicate that a lot in their very own phrases. You can not imagine in every little thing."