Valentina Shevchenko may be one of the top female UFC fighters of all time but MMA is not the only sport she excels in.
The two-time UFC Women’s Flyweight champion is the #1 pound-for-pound female fighter in the promotion, and is considered one of the top female UFC fighters of all time.
While she prepares to face Manon Fiorot at UFC 315, Valentina Shevchenko’s mind will be focused solely on her MMA training.
However, once her UFC career is done, she has the chance to get to the top of another competitive field.
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Valentina Shevchenko competes in 3-gun pistol shoot competitions
Outside of the octagon, Shevchenko has a keen eye for shooting as she competes in multiple shooting events.
“Bullet” competes in IPSC, IDPA, and 3-Gun events, using her speed, concentration and problem-solving skills to battle for first place as she competes against other keen shooters.
The UFC Women’s Flyweight champion was introduced to firearms training by her MMA coach Pavel Fedotov. Fedotov trained both Valentina and her sister Antonina, and introduced her to gun shooting in 2010.
She spoke about her love for guns and competitive shooting to Gun Cult Magazine in 2018, while emphasizing how important it is to take firearm safety seriously and with discipline.
Shevchenko said: “I know exactly when you have a gun in your hand, it is no time for jokes. I concentrate on what I am doing and leave all smiles behind.”
The Kyrgyz fighter seems to excel in whatever she puts her mind to, whether that be in shooting or fighting in the octagon.
Shevchenko feels like shooting practice helps her UFC career
While you may not think shooting and MMA have much crossover, Shevchenko has revealed how her shooting training helps her win in the octagon.
She appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show, where Shevchenko explained how the discipline and versatility she learned at the shooting range has helped her in MMA.
“I go to the shooting range. One day, I take one gun, another day, a different one. Every time, it’s about seeking perfection, finding the best.
“I relate firearms to mixed martial arts because MMA is the greatest modern combat sport. It’s universal. A fighter must be skilled in wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing, and kicking. Combining the best qualities of each discipline.
“It’s the same with firearms and shooting sports. You look for something reliable, something that works every time, is comfortable, and easy to use.
“There are so many connections between the two that when I’m at the range doing tactical shooting exercises, I feel it also helps my martial arts training. It’s all the same. All one.”
Her love for the sport is so great that she wants to continue shooting even after Shevchenko retires from fighting.
After she retires from fighting, Shevchenko wants to focus on competitive shooting
While she is at the top of her game in the UFC, Shevchenko has one eye on competitive shooting once she retires from the octagon.
When Shevchenko appeared on the JRE MMA Show, she spoke at length about her love of guns and competitive shooting.
Shevchenko said: “When I’m done fighting, maybe I’ll try a shooting competition. Maybe after I finish my fighting career, I’ll compete in shooting. I think it’s an excellent sport.
I like the style of shooting where you’re not just in one position aiming for accuracy. You’re moving—standing, lying down, sitting. Shooting from different positions. It’s like a circuit with different targets and different goals.
It’s a mix of speed, accuracy, and problem-solving. If your gun gets stuck, you have to fix it quickly and keep going. So it’s a really amazing sport.”
Given her love for the sport and what people have said about her ability, Shevchenko could become a real force in competitive shooting once she hangs up her gloves.