Valentina Shevchenko heads to Montreal for her toughest test yet in the UFC 315 co-main event.
Eight months after retaking the flyweight title from division rival Alexa Grasso, ‘Bullet’ puts her gold up for grabs against the No. 2 ranked contender, Manon Fiorot. Hailing from Nice, France, Fiorot has flipped the script in recent weeks, abandoning her sportsmanlike demeanor by threatening to not only take Shevchenko’s title in the Great White North but to send her into retirement.
Round 1
Shevchenko gets things started with a calf kick followed by a lead right hand. Fiorot steps in and gets stuck with a nasty right hand. Fiorot already appears to have a knot on her shin from the kicks of Shevchenko. Fiorot throws a low kick and gets another right hand from the champ. Shevchenko is timing her counters perfectly so far, catching Fiorot with a right hand every time she attempts to close the distance.
Fiorot is already pouring blood from her nose as Shevchenko connects with another hard right hand. Fiorot throws a kick that Shevchenko catches and uses to take down the challenger with 90 seconds to go in the round. ‘Bullet’ is content to maintain top control and ride out the remainder of the round.
Round 2
Fiorot comes out and immediately clinches up in the second stanza. Fiorot presses Shevchenko’s back against the fence, but she quickly lets go and separates. Fiorot briefly clinches up again, but it goes nowhere. Shevchenko is just waiting for Fiorot at this point, sticking the Frenchwoman with a right hand on her way in for the umpteenth time.
Shevchenko changes levels and looks for a takedown of her own, but Fiorot defends and gets back to her feet almost immediately. Shevchenko shoots and gets deep on another takedown attempt, but Fiorot fends it off. Fiorot changes levels looking for her own takedown, but Shevchenko stays upright and breaks the grip. Fiorot lands an elbow on the break. Fiorot is spamming takedowns, going for yet another one, but this time she manages to get Shevchenko to the mat with 40 seconds to go.
With time ticking down, Fiorot throws an illegal knee to Shevchenko’s head while the champ is down. Fortunately, Shevchenko blocked it just as the round came to a close. Referee Marc Goddard gives Fiorot a hard warning in between rounds.
Round 3
Fiorot and Shevchenko trade leg kicks through the opening minute. Shevchenko narrowly dodges a high kick from the challenger. Fiorot lands a knee and follows it up with an elbow. Shevchenko changes levels, looking for a takedown. Fiorot defends, but Shevchenko lands a right up top on the break. They clinch up in the center of the Octagon, and Fiorot makes her pay with a couple of knees.
Fiorot bullies her way inside. Shevchenko forces her to eat a knee, but Fiorot is undeterred and pins Shevchenko’s back against the fence. Shevchenko lands with a combination. That prompts Fiorot to shoot in for a power double-leg. Shevchenko uses the fence to stay upright. Fiorot desperately tries to drag her down, but Shevchenko stays upright for the remainder of the round.
Round 4
Shevchenko opens the round with some jabs and connects with a perfectly timed spinning back fist that has Fiorot’s nose leaking again. Fiorot charges in and locks her hands around Shevchenko’s waist. Fiorot punishes Shevchenko with some knees to the thigh. Fiorot tries to switch to a single-leg, but quickly gives it up and separates. Fiorot again charges in, but she’s met with a combination from the champ.
Fiorot shrugs off a takedown attempt from Shevchenko, but she eats another spinning attack from ‘Bullet.’ Fiorot ties up against the fence and goes back to work in the clinch. Shevchenko fights her way out and returns to the center of the Octagon. Fiorot throws a combination, but she’s way out of range. Shevchenko times a perfect double leg and sends Fiorot crashing to the mat. Fiorot wastes no time in getting back to her feet and controls the clinch against the cage before separating.
Fiorot throws a spinning attack of her own, but she’s out of range. Shevchenko counters with a right hand that knocks Fiorot to the mat. Shevchenko jumps on her and throws some strikes, but there’s not enough time in the round to capitalize.
Round 5
Fiorot clinches up against the fence. After a few moments, they separate. Fiorot throws, but it’s Shevchenko who lands with a counter right. Shevchenko level changes, but quickly backs off. Fiorot catches Shevchenko with a left hand and presses the champ against the fence once again. Fiorot backs away, and Shevchenko lands a kick to the body on the break.
Both fighters land a right hand, and Shevchenko changes levels again, but that just allows Fiorot to lock her up in a clinch. Fiorot closes the distance with a right hand and clinches. The crowd is starting to get frustrated with the lack of action in the final round. Fiorot advances with 30 seconds to go. Shevchenko throws another spinning attack. Fiorot clinches and lands a nice elbow inside just before the final horn.
Official Result: Valentina Shevchenko def. Manon Fiorot via unanimous decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
Check Out Highlights From Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot at UFC 315:
KNOCKDOWN FOR SHEVCHENKO 🤯 #UFC315 pic.twitter.com/lc8GQSziza
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 11, 2025
Valentina Shevchenko and Manon Fiorot go the distance. How did you score it? #UFC315pic.twitter.com/Ndd98jjfpF
— MMA On Point (@OnPointMMA) May 11, 2025
AND STILL 🏆 #UFC315
Valentina Shevchenko beats Manon Fiorot by unanimous decision! pic.twitter.com/IbB4gp80MO
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) May 11, 2025
