EDMONTON, AB - SEPTEMBER 07: Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan holds an open workout session for fans and media at Rogers Place on September 7, 2017 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Report: Valentina Shevchenko to defend title against Joanne Calderwood
“The Bullet” is going to keep on firing throughout her division. According to a report from Brett Okamoto of ESPN, UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has her next title defense scheduled for this summer against contender Joanne Calderwood.
Breaking: Valentina Shevchenko’s (@BulletValentina) next title defense will come against Joanne Calderwood (@DRkneevil) at UFC 251 on June 6. Both sides have agreed to the fight, per sources. More details coming to ESPN shortly. pic.twitter.com/PkjiYdnn0D
— Brett Okamoto (@bokamotoESPN) February 20, 2020
Earlier this month at UFC 247, Shevchenko defended her title against Katlyn Chookagian with a third-round TKO victory. Since she won the flyweight title back at UFC 231 over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Valentina Shevchenko has gone on to defend her title three times against competitors Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, and Chookagian. This will be Shevchenko’s fourth fight in the past year.
While there were no confirmed details for the event, Okamoto reported this flyweight title will take place at UFC 251 which is scheduled for June 6, this summer. While no location or venue has been given, Okamoto citing sources, reported that the event could take place in Australia.
As for Joanne Calderwood, she’ll get her first chance at UFC gold since joining the UFC as a former competitor on The Ultimate Fighter: Season 20. Calderwood’s last fight was a split-decision victory over Andrea Lee back in September of 2019 at UFC 242, and it was her third win in her last four fights.
Calderwood’s most recent loss came against Katlyn Chookagian back at UFC 238 in June of 2019. With a 14-4 professional record, Calderwood has been tested against some of the best female fighters in the world, especially in the women’s strawweight division where she has faced the likes of Rose Namajunas, Jessica Andrade, Cynthia Calvillo, and Maryna Moroz.
Before her fight against Kalindra Faria, Calderwood, a Scotland native, made the move from her home country and landed in Las Vegas, Nevada where she is now a part of the Syndicate MMA fight team. That move has seen Calderwood win three of her last four fights and has now lined her up to be the next challenger for Valentina Shevchenko’s flyweight title.
