Former flyweight rivals Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Zurzezhūczhk have reunited as training partners ahead of Shevchenko’s upcoming UFC 315 title defense. The two athletes, once a fierce competitor in both Muay Thai and MMA, are working together in Montreal as Shevchenko prepares to defend the flyweight championship against Manon Philott.
Former rivals Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Junzejuczhk team up ahead of the UFC 315 title fight
Valentina Shevchenko and Joanna Ję Drzejczyk share a long history. They first met in Muay Thai, where Shevchenko won all three matches by decision over a decade ago. Their rivalry continued in the UFC, culminating in 2018 in a five-round contest of the vacant women’s flyweight title held at UFC 231. Despite a highly competitive past, both fighters have expressed mutual respect.
Kyrgyzstan’s two-time UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has established herself as one of the most dominant figures in female MMA, holding a record of most title defenses and knockouts in her division. Polish native Joanna Julzezzzcz is a former strawweight champion with five successful title defenses and has been recognized as a UFC Hall of Fame.
With their shared journey and training with each other, Shevchenko said recently, “Joanna, she’s a great fighter. She’s a Hall of Fame. We started flyweight together, which is how the UFC female flyweight started with me.
Their collaboration highlights the evolution of relationships from rivals to allies. Both continue to influence the highest level of women’s flyweight division.