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#2. Winner of Amanda Nunes vs. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Julianna Pena
After setting the new record for most women’s title defenses in UFC history, perhaps Valetina Shevchenko has other aspirations. She is the top-ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter in the promotion and could have an opportunity to challenge for the bantamweight championship. Only Amanda Nunes has become a simultaneous two-division champion and Shevchenko might want to do the same.
She defeated every top contender and could pursue a rematch with either Nunes or bantamweight champion Julianna Pena. The women’s championship rematch between Pena and Nunes is scheduled to take place July 30, when TUF 30 concludes. ‘The Venezuelan Vixen’ pulled off a massive upset when she submitted ‘Lioness’ last December and will look to do the same.
‘Bullet’ is no stranger to both champions as she has fought both during her career. She submitted Pena in 2017, but was twice defeated by Nunes. A second championship would be significant as it would put Shevchenko in discussion of being greatest female fighter of all time.
#1. Former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Miesha Tate
Miesha Tate has an opportunity to cut the line and earn a UFC women’s flyweight title shot against Shevchenko. The former women’s bantamweight champion is scheduled to make her flyweight debut against former title challenger Lauren Murphy on July 2. Murphy could possibly earn a rematch with the champion as a win over Tate would make a strong case.
‘Cupcake’ is 1-1 since returning to the octagon and could set herself up nicely should she defeat the No.3-ranked flyweight. She has defeated many champions including former Marloes Coenen, Holly Holm, and current Bellator women’s flyweight champion Liz Carmouche. During her post-fight press conference, ‘Bullet’ was open to the idea of fighting Tate at the end of the year.
Tate would be the most lucrative option for Shevchenko at flyweight. And so, that could lead to her putting her bantamweight title aspirations on hold for the time being. ‘Cupcake’s performance against Murphy will be telling as it could dictate whether she remains at 125lbs permanently or returns to bantamweight.
