Valentina Shevchenko doesn’t feel a trilogy fight against Amanda Nunes is impossible, despite “The Lioness'” retirement.
Shevchenko is 0-2 against Nunes, but “Bullet” insists she should’ve had her hand raised in the 2017 rematch. Shevchenko lost the first fight via unanimous decision and the rematch by way of split decision. While Shevchenko and Nunes have been linked throughout their UFC runs, a third fight seems to be a stretch given how happy Nunes appeared to be after her retirement announcement.
Valentina Shevchenko Remains Hopeful Of Amanda Nunes Trilogy
Ahead of her UFC women’s flyweight title rematch against Alexa Grasso, Shevchenko was asked about missing out on a trilogy with Nunes during the Noche UFC pre-fight press conference. “Bullet” wouldn’t rule out the matchup.
“Amanda, she’s amazing fighter, she did amazing things in the sport,” Shevchenko said. “I feel that many people they kind of starting to judge a little bit to say like, ‘Oh, she’s retired,’ or something like that, but I want to say no one has a right to judge a fighter who did that much.
“I think our second fight, she didn’t win,” Shevchenko said. “I think I won that fight, many people think the same. What I can say right now is if in the future sometimes she will feel kind of like she rested, she refocused, she feels she wanna come back, I still plan to be around. So, maybe we’ll have this opportunity.”
“Bullet” Plans To Show Grasso No Mercy
For now, Shevchenko will be taking the focus off potential matchups down the road. She’s hoping to avenge her UFC 285 submission loss to Alexa Grasso. Going into the big rematch this Saturday night, Shevchenko said she has no choice but to show her opponent no mercy.
“I would say I have no choice,” Shevchenko said. “No, I don’t say that is the last opportunity, but the position I’m in right now I have no choice for any sentimental things. It’s no time for that, it’s a fight and in this fight I have to be very just go without any step back. Just always forward.
“Right now, I’m a person who’s motivated to get rid of that feeling back then in March. I’m determined on what I have to do this Saturday. That’s my mindset. I don’t watch back. Everything I had to take from the fight I took. Now it’s strong energy, positive energy, no mercy. Go to the end.”
Check out the full Valentina Shevchenko media scrum below (video captured by MMAJunkie).
