Opinion: Valentina Shevchenko can save women’s MMA by not returning to 125 pounds

An opinion columnist argues that women's mixed martial arts would benefit significantly if Valentina Shevchenko relocated to bantamweight rather than continuing to compete at flyweight, where she has dominated for much of the past eight years.

The columnist contends that Shevchenko's prolonged supremacy at 125 pounds has stifled the division's growth, comparing her reign to those of other historically dominant champions like Demetrious Johnson, Anderson Silva, and Jon Jones. While those legendary fighters generated awe in retrospect, the columnist notes that their dominance often made individual fights feel predetermined, draining excitement from their divisions. Shevchenko's presence at flyweight similarly overshadows competitors such as Natalia Silva, Alexa Grasso, Erin Blanchfield, Manon Fiorot, and Wang Cong—fighters who could thrive in a more open competitive landscape.

Moving Shevchenko to bantamweight would simultaneously revitalize multiple divisions. At 135 pounds, she would challenge the winner of an upcoming title fight between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes, creating marquee matchups regardless of outcome: a potential trilogy with Nunes or an opportunity for Harrison to add another legend to her resume. For Shevchenko, it represents a chance to claim a title she hasn't won, cementing an unparalleled legacy. Meanwhile, her departure from flyweight would allow younger contenders to compete without facing an nearly insurmountable obstacle.

The columnist further suggests this move would eliminate pressure on Zhang Weili to reclaim the strawweight title, allowing Mackenzie Dern's 115-pound reign to stand without being immediately undercut by a dominant former champion. Collectively, these changes would infuse the women's divisions with genuine competitive intrigue rather than cycling through predictable title defenses.