MMA
Exclusive: Valentina Shevchenko reflects on her UFC 315 victory over Manon Fiorot
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UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) successfully defended her belt at UFC 315 against Manon Fiorot (12-2).
After her victory, Shevchenko called out the French fighter for her pre-fight pledge to retire.
"Because of all these things that happened before the fight - who wins and who loses, that person will retire - I just wanted to make it clear: it’s not because of me, not because of what I said," Shevchenko told DAZN News .
"She started it first. I understand, and I know exactly what it means for a martial artist to be present, to keep going on the journey. I don't want some silly words to affect someone's career. I just wanted to make it clear that no, you don't have to follow your words."
Shevchenko won the fight by decision. She also spoke about Fiorot's performance and the challenges her opponent presented.
"Exactly what I was prepared for in the fight," she said. "I knew that it was going to be a good fight. I had to do everything to win. I knew that so many words were said by her before the fight, leading up to the fight - not very pleasant words, saying all kinds of things.
"But I knew they were very sure of her victory, but they didn't see the full picture. I don't know why, but they didn’t look at the full picture."
Prior to the clash between the two fighters, Fiorot had repeatedly criticised the champion. Shevchenko did not let these criticisms get the better of her.
"I felt it was more like trying to destabilize a fighter before the fight - putting out all this crazy stuff and hoping that it was going to affect me somehow, in some way," she said.
"But I've been in the sport for so many years. In martial arts, I've had all kinds of situations and motivations. If someone thinks that it can potentially destabilize me or affect me emotionally, they are so wrong - very wrong.
"I know exactly how to block myself from everything happening around and focus on what I have to keep, how I have to conserve, and how much I have to keep my energy inside me.
"For the most important thing: the fight. It's not about talk, it's not about speaking - it’s about what matters."
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