The UFC returns to Montreal this Saturday where Manon Fiorot will finally get her chance to challenge for the flyweight title.
In the co-main event of the evening, before Belal Muhammad’s headlining return, Fiorot will look to become just the third woman to defeat Valentina Shevchenko inside the Octagon.
The striking specialist has emerged as one of the top contenders at 125 pounds but her win streak wasn’t enough to interrupt the trilogy of fights between the current champion and Alexa Grasso.
Shevchenko is already a legend of the sport but this won’t intimidate the confident challenger who has overcome each test that the UFC has put in front of her.
Fiorot has only ever tasted defeat once in her pro career and it just so happened to be on her pro debut all the way back in 2018.
Manon Fiorot lost her pro debut to Leah McCourt at Cage Warriors 94 in 2018
Having already accomplished a lot in striking sports as a black belt in karate, Manon Fiorot went on to receive success as an amateur fighter by winning the IMAAF World Championships (International Mixed Martial Arts Federation) in 2017.
The French fighter transitioned to the pro side of the sport the following year where she made the walk for the first time in European promotion Cage Warriors.
At Cage Warriors 94 in Antwerp, Belgium, she faced Northern Ireland’s Leah McCourt who at the time, was 0-1 in her pro career having also been an acclaimed amateur.
Following a back-and-forth fight, McCourt emerged victorious via a split decision before she went on to sign with Bellator where she has fought 10 times.
The 32-year-old last competed in the main event of the Bellator Champions Series card in London last September where she faced Sara Collins.
Despite her suffering a loss, Cris Cyborg named the McCourt matchup as something that still interests her in an interview with Bloody Elbow.
As for Fiorot, she would go on to fight and win titles in EFC and UAE Warriors before signing with the UFC in 2021 where she has won seven in a row to solidify her status as the top contender.
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Manon Fiorot will need to answer some big questions in order to pose some of her own
It’s no secret what Manon Fiorot’s biggest challenges will be heading into the co-main event of UFC 315.
Valentina Shevchenko has far more experience at the highest level and whilst ‘Bullet’ is also a great striker, her grappling would seemingly be her biggest advantage in this fight.
Fiorot, who has a very high 93% takedown defense on UFC stats, was able to more than confidently thwart another high level grappler in Erin Blanchfield last time out but Shevchenko is far more dynamic.
If the challenger can keep the fight standing, where she has nearly double the amount of strikes landed per minute compared to her opponent, things could get very interesting in Montreal.