Valentina Shevchenko hopes to return in August following surgery
Earlier this week, news broke that UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko would not be able to defend her title against Joanne Calderwood on June 6 due to a leg injury. Now a few days later, the champ said that she’s looking to return in August.
Today, Shevchenko did an interview with ESPN’s Ariel Helwani via Instagram Live and revealed that she underwent leg surgery a week and a half ago.
“I was hoping [the injury] would heal by itself, but when it started to frustrate me a little bit, doctors advised me to have surgery,” Shevchenko told Helwani. “They said it can heal by itself but it will take time, a longer time. They advised for faster recovery to have surgery.
Shevchenko added that she injured her leg around the time of her last fight when she stopped Katlyn Chookagian in February.
“I will do everything I should do to make my recovery faster and I expect to be back sometime in August,” said Shevchenko.
Shevchenko still plans on fighting Calderwood when she returns to the octagon.
While she’s going through physical therapy and recovering, Valentina Shevchenko is still helping train her sister Antonia, who is scheduled to fight on April 25 against Cynthia Calvillo.
