UFC flyweight champion Nicco Montaño has announced she can return to action on September 8, and wasted no time in calling out top contender Valentina Shevchenko.
UFC Flyweight champion Nicco Montano announced on Instagram that she was finally healthy and ready to return to action on September 8. She also called out top contender Valentina Shevchenko to meet her on that date. The fight would be the first bout for the flyweight champion since winning the title in December.
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When Nicco Montaño won the inaugural title to win The Ultimate Fighter, it became one of the most unexpected title runs in the history of the show. Entering the show with a modest record of 2-2, Montaño impressed by defeating tournament favorites Lauren Murphy, Barb Honchak, and Roxanne Modafferi. At the time, it was expected that Montaño would be welcoming the next wave of elite flyweight contenders. But instead, she went noticeably absent for several months with no concrete details on when she would return to action.
Earlier this Spring when criticism of her absence intensified, Montaño addressed the rumors by stating she had undergone a tonsillectomy due to an ongoing bacterial infection. After previously being silent on the matter, her explanation for her extended hiatus left many wondering how long Montaño could afford to be out before the UFC would make the decision to move forward without her. A September return would mark nine months since she won the belt.
In her absence, Valentina Shevchenko emerged as the biggest threat to not only Montaño but arguably flyweights across the world. After coming up short against bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes, Shevchenko made her flyweight debut in February with an authoritative victory over UFC newcomer Priscila Cachoeira. Since then, she has made no secret that she wants Montaño and a second chance to claim a UFC title.
Shevchenko enters the bout as a heavy favorite, with prior wins over Holly Holm and Julianna Peña at 135. However, the flyweight title picture has slowly become more crowded in the last nine months. Sijara Eubanks, who was supposed to fight Montaño for the title in December, returned to action with a victory over top contender Lauren Murphy earlier this month. Former Invicta stand-out Andrea Lee also turned in an impressive performance. Finally, world number one ranked flyweight Jennifer Maia will also be making her UFC debut in September. Regardless of the winner, the two will have no shortage of contenders ahead of them.
The September 8 date has currently not been announced by the UFC but it is expected to be the date for UFC 228 on pay-per-view. Currently, there are no plans set for other champions to compete on the date so it is unknown if Montaño vs Shevchenko will headline or co-headline the card. More news on this story as it develops.
