Every time Valentina Shevchenko fires a vintage gun, it feels like she’s in touch with history.
Inside the octagon, the “bullet” is one of the absolute best female fighters in the history of mixed martial arts. But apart from the fight game, she is a skilled and enthusiastic shooter.
But for Shevchenko, it’s more than just fun, sports, or personal protection. It’s about history and the feeling you get from using guns from past times.
“I really like modern guns: Glock, Sig Sauer P360, Smith & Wesson. But sometimes it’s like I’m touching on some of the history, so I love shooting old guns,” Shevchenko said in an interview with Helen Yi. “I’ve had a rifle since 1935. I used it to prepare for the first Sig Sauer Hunting game. This is like two history of the second century.
“I competed in defensive shooting competitions like the IPSC and IDPA in South America. It’s not just about accuracy. You have to move, shoot from different positions, fix malfunctions and continue. It’s dynamic like an MMA. You have to be a universal fighter. For me, defensive shooting is the same.”
What’s next for Valentina Shevchenko?
Shevchenko is fresh from another big victory within the Octagon, dominating Manon Fioro for a unanimous decisive victory at UFC 315 in Montreal. It was her 25th career victory and her 14th under the UFC banner.
Perhaps even more impressive is that it was her 12th straight title fight and officially linked her to Amanda Nunes for the most combined title defense in UFC history.
We still see what happens next after “Bullets,” but there are plenty of women lined up to try out and abdicate the flyweight icons, including UFC Strawweight world champion Chang Weri and 125 pound top-ranked candidate Natalia Silva.