Amidst a flurry of fight announcements late Wednesday, the UFC confirmed a long-rumored title fight in the women’s flyweight division, one that will serve as co-headliner at UFC 315.
Valentina Shevchenko (24-4-1) will return at the event, taking on France’s Manon Fiorot (12-1) at the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec on May 10, 2025.
The fight joins Belal Muhammad vs. Jack Della Maddalena for the promotion’s welterweight championship, which will headline the card.
Shevchenko will be returning from her September win over Alexa Grasso, which saw her win back the UFC women’s flyweight title and close out her rivalry (for now) with the Mexican star. The pair are 1-1-1 in their career series, with Grasso submitting “Bullet” in March of 2023 to dethrone the then-dominant champ. After shocking fight fans, Grasso found herself in a rematch, retaining her title after battling to a draw. A third fight followed, with Shevchenko earning a unanimous decision win at UFC 306/Noche UFC back in September.
In her first title reign, Valentina Shevchenko secured seven title defenses, the longest title defense streak among women in UFC history.
Manon Fiorot has not tasted defeated since the very first fight of her pro career, against Leah Mccourt, who fights at featherweight these days. She’s won her first seven fights under the UFC banner, including victories over former champion Rose Namajunas, former title challenger and Invicta champ Jennifer Maia, and fellow contender Erin Blanchfield. Fiorot has not competed since her March 2024 decision victory over Blanchfield, which will make it over a year between fights for the 35-year old, who sat in a holding pattern as Shevchenko and Grasso finished out their rivalry.
UFC 315 marks the promotion’s first trip to Montreal in a decade.
