vs
-136 +120
UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025 · Women's Flyweight · Completed
Age 38
Height 5' 5"
Reach 66.0"
Weight 125 lbs.
Stance Southpaw
Age 36
Height 5' 4"
Reach 63.0"
Weight 115 lbs.
Stance Switch
Career Averages - Valentina Shevchenko
3.04 SLpM
52.0% Str. Acc.
2.0 SApM
63.0% Str. Def.
2.65 TD Avg
61.0% TD Acc.
76.0% TD Def.
0.3 Sub. Avg
Career Averages - Zhang Weili
4.66 SLpM
52.0% Str. Acc.
2.63 SApM
53.0% Str. Def.
1.96 TD Avg
44.0% TD Acc.
63.0% TD Def.
0.5 Sub. Avg
Valentina Shevchenko
Moneyline
FanDuel -136
KO/TKO
FanDuel +800
Submission
FanDuel +900
Decision
BetMGM +150
Zhang Weili
Moneyline
BetMGM +120
KO/TKO
BetMGM +750
Submission
BetMGM +1200
Decision
FanDuel +230
Valentina Shevchenko - Fight History
WIN vs Zhang Weili
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 41 of 68 60% 137 of 186 5 of 6 83% 0 0 13:24
Zhang Weili 0 32 of 98 32% 80 of 161 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 8 of 13 61% 21 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:30
Zhang Weili 0 7 of 17 41% 15 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 9 of 10 90% 34 of 38 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:09
Zhang Weili 0 1 of 8 12% 12 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 7 of 18 38% 19 of 32 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:43
Zhang Weili 0 9 of 26 34% 12 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
4 Valentina Shevchenko 0 13 of 21 61% 31 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:16
Zhang Weili 0 10 of 30 33% 19 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Valentina Shevchenko 0 4 of 6 66% 32 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:46
Zhang Weili 0 5 of 17 29% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 41 of 68 60% 21 of 44 14 of 17 6 of 7 27 of 47 8 of 14 6 of 7
Zhang Weili 32 of 98 32% 9 of 59 13 of 26 10 of 13 25 of 90 7 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 8 of 13 61% 4 of 8 2 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 8 2 of 5 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 7 of 17 41% 4 of 12 2 of 3 1 of 2 5 of 14 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 9 of 10 90% 6 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 5 1 of 1 4 of 4
Zhang Weili 1 of 8 12% 0 of 4 0 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Valentina Shevchenko 7 of 18 38% 5 of 15 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 13 1 of 3 1 of 2
Zhang Weili 9 of 26 34% 1 of 15 4 of 7 4 of 4 8 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Valentina Shevchenko 13 of 21 61% 5 of 11 6 of 7 2 of 3 11 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 10 of 30 33% 3 of 17 4 of 9 3 of 4 9 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Valentina Shevchenko 4 of 6 66% 1 of 3 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 2 1 of 1
Zhang Weili 5 of 17 29% 1 of 11 3 of 4 1 of 2 2 of 14 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo leans towards Zhang Weili, citing her superior wrestling and athleticism. He believes Weili's clean double-leg takedowns will be effective against Valentina Shevchenko, who relies on striking to set up takedowns. He acknowledges Shevchenko's experience and durability but thinks Weili's speed and wrestling will be the difference.

"I am going to slightly lean way Lee here. I think the wrestling is going to be the difference."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady leans Valentina Shevchenko, citing her size advantage and natural weight class. He notes Shevchenko's wrestling ability, having taken down Manon Fiorot, and believes she can get takedowns on Zhang Weili, who was taken down multiple times by Rose Namajunas. However, he acknowledges Zhang's physical strength and says it wouldn't shock him if Zhang gets top position. Brady is not betting on this fight and predicts a decision win for Shevchenko.

"I'm going to lean Valentina Shiftenko ever so slightly. I think it's a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody picks Valentina due to her size, experience, and well-rounded skills. He notes that she is an elite kickboxer and wrestler, and that her trilogy with Grasso was a blip. He highlights that Zhang has had takedown defense issues in the past, and that Valentina consistently scores takedowns. He believes Valentina's size and strength will be key, and that she will win by decision.

Valentina Shevchenko by decision
"Valentina Shevchenko by decision play for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Connor picks Shevchenko but is hesitant, calling it a coin flip. He argues that Shevchenko's simple, patient style and mental stamina will frustrate Zhang, who struggles with distance and initiating exchanges. He notes that Zhang's wrestling might be neutralized by Shevchenko's clinch and top control, and that Zhang has been vulnerable when taken down.

Odds: Shevchenko opened +120, now -135; Zhang opened -140, now +115.
"I'm going to take Shevchenko, but I'm fascinated by the fight too. It genuinely feels like a coin flip to me."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel respects Shevchenko's technical striking and well-rounded game, but sees Zhang as the fighter making rapid improvements, especially in wrestling. He notes that Zhang has outgrappled elite wrestlers like Carla Esparza and Tatiana Suarez, while Shevchenko hasn't shown the same evolution. He also likes the dog odds on Zhang and believes she can become a double champ.

"I'm actually going to pick Jean Lee to come out here, make history, become another double champ, and bring another belt back to China."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Lucrative James picks Valentina Shevchenko to win, stating she is the greatest women's fighter of all time. He believes her wrestling and grappling are superior to Zhang's, and she can outskill her on the feet. He notes both fighters have losses due to grappling, but trusts Shevchenko's takedown accuracy and experience against tougher opponents. He expects Shevchenko to control the fight and win a decision or possibly a late submission.

"My prediction is going to be fairly short and sweet here, boys. It's going to be Valentina Chevchenko to get the win and go down as the greatest women's fighter that we have ever seen in MMA."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko's size and overall MMA advantages muzzle Zhang's style. She mixes martial arts well, sets up takedowns behind strikes, and wins on the scorecards.

"I think that Chevchenko is the side here. Look for her size and overall MMA advantages to help her really muzzle that uh style of Jeang. ... I expect her to do it on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul agrees with Cody, citing Valentina's size advantage and superior wrestling. He notes that both fighters are similar in age but that Valentina is the bigger fighter and has a better takedown ratio. He thinks the fight will come down to grappling and top position, and that Valentina will win those exchanges. He also mentions that Valentina is more technical on the feet.

"give me the bigger bigger fighter with frankly a better, you know, takedown to taken down uh ratio."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by split decision. He believes Zhang is a better fighter than Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot, who gave Shevchenko close fights. He notes Shevchenko's recent performances have been less dominant, and Zhang's grappling and striking should be competitive. The Guru also suggests promotional favoritism towards the Chinese market could influence a close decision.

"I'm gonna go Jang Lee. Lighter woman's skill. Um I think she's better than Alexa Carraso and I think that's what this is going to come down to."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Zane also picks Shevchenko hesitantly, emphasizing that Zhang's game plan may not work against Shevchenko's patience. He notes that Zhang has become a punch-and-clutch fighter but still struggles with range, and Shevchenko will force her to initiate. He sees Shevchenko's ability to maintain a low-risk fight as key.

Same odds commentary.
"I'm going to pick Shevchenko just because I think because Weilijang struggles so much with that distance, that if her opponent is well attuned to taking advantage of that fact, they can take her down."
WIN vs Manon Fiorot
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC 315: Muhammad vs. Della Maddalena · May 10, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 1 72 of 149 48% 173 of 251 2 of 9 22% 0 0 1:52
Manon Fiorot 0 71 of 160 44% 150 of 239 1 of 12 8% 0 0 7:07
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 19 of 36 52% 57 of 75 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:34
Manon Fiorot 0 13 of 32 40% 20 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 8 of 20 40% 21 of 33 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:00
Manon Fiorot 0 12 of 28 42% 31 of 47 1 of 5 20% 0 0 1:59
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 14 of 28 50% 36 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Manon Fiorot 0 14 of 28 50% 29 of 43 0 of 5 0% 0 0 1:40
4 Valentina Shevchenko 1 16 of 32 50% 29 of 45 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:18
Manon Fiorot 0 14 of 33 42% 32 of 51 0 of 2 0% 0 0 1:31
5 Valentina Shevchenko 0 15 of 33 45% 30 of 48 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:00
Manon Fiorot 0 18 of 39 46% 38 of 59 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:57
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 72 of 149 48% 48 of 118 7 of 12 17 of 19 62 of 126 7 of 18 3 of 5
Manon Fiorot 71 of 160 44% 29 of 113 35 of 37 7 of 10 40 of 124 29 of 33 2 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 19 of 36 52% 15 of 31 0 of 1 4 of 4 18 of 35 0 of 0 1 of 1
Manon Fiorot 13 of 32 40% 6 of 25 5 of 5 2 of 2 13 of 32 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 8 of 20 40% 5 of 16 3 of 4 0 of 0 5 of 16 3 of 4 0 of 0
Manon Fiorot 12 of 28 42% 7 of 22 4 of 4 1 of 2 5 of 19 5 of 6 2 of 3
3 Valentina Shevchenko 14 of 28 50% 6 of 18 1 of 2 7 of 8 11 of 22 3 of 6 0 of 0
Manon Fiorot 14 of 28 50% 5 of 16 8 of 10 1 of 2 4 of 18 10 of 10 0 of 0
4 Valentina Shevchenko 16 of 32 50% 10 of 26 1 of 1 5 of 5 14 of 22 0 of 6 2 of 4
Manon Fiorot 14 of 33 42% 5 of 23 8 of 8 1 of 2 7 of 25 7 of 8 0 of 0
5 Valentina Shevchenko 15 of 33 45% 12 of 27 2 of 4 1 of 2 14 of 31 1 of 2 0 of 0
Manon Fiorot 18 of 39 46% 6 of 27 10 of 10 2 of 2 11 of 30 7 of 9 0 of 0
Play-by-Play
View on Sherdog
UFC Women’s Flyweight Title Fight: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Manon Fiorot
BETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Fiorot (-148), Shevchenko (+124)

Round 1
For the first time since 2022, champion Shevchenko (24-4-1, 13-3-1 UFC) will be facing a woman not named Grasso. She draws surging Frenchwoman Fiorot (12-1, 7-0 UFC), who could become the first French-born undisputed champion in UFC history—Ciryl Gane won the interim heavyweight strap. To the surprise of some, Fiorot will close as the betting favorite, but when the cage door closes, it’s all between the two flyweights and referee Marc Goddard. They cordially tap their gloves together to make it official. Shevchenko slaps out a leg kick and leans to avoid a head kick, with Fiorot advancing early. Shevchenko pushes her away to score a body kick, and she zips away before another high kick can reach her. Shevchenko clips the challenger with a one-two, who seems surprised by the blows and has to blink them out. Shevchenko blocks a kick to get off a right hand, and she ducks a right hook when Fiorot strikes. Fiorot plants a kick on the lead leg, and she is countered when trying a second. Shevchenko lets Fiorot come in so she can catch her with a check right hook, and Fiorot looks for a kick on the other side. Shevchenko considers changing levels, but ends up blocking a kick and skirting to the side. Shevchenko stands the Frenchwoman up with a right hand, and her low kick continues to find its mark. Shevchenko flicks up a kick to the nose that reddens it up fast, and Fiorot adjusts it. Shevchenko spins with a wheel kick, and Fiorot dodges but cannot get her hands on the champ. Fiorot walks face-first into a right hand, and she bangs her lead leg into her foe’s guard. The right hand from Shevchenko bloodies up Fiorot’s nose, and she stings her again and shakes her up. The nose for the challenger is busted and bleeding badly just three minutes in, and Fiorot ignores it and surges forward. Shevchenko dances easily out of the way to reset, and she is met with a kick that she catches and tackles Fiorot to the ground. Shevchenko lands in half guard, where she lords over her foe and completely controls her. Goddard asks for more action, with Shevchenko content to impose heavy shoulder pressure. Fiorot elbows her opponent in the posterior while Shevchenko lands a few punches, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko

Round 2
Fiorot starts the round with her foot flying, and she shoots in for a double. Shevchenko leans against the wall to defend it, and she ducks away to escape. Shevchenko whips a kick up high that starts the bleeding again, and Fiorot promptly wipes her nose. Shevchenko spins with a back kick that slams into her ribs, and she skips away to evade a counter. Fiorot level changes and hits a 5-foot-5 wall that punches her in the face. Fiorot comes up short with a head kick, and she goes after a single that is equally futile. Shevchenko stands and waits for her opponent to come to her, countering her and hitting a trip to put the Frenchwoman on the mat. Fiorot scrambles madly to flip Shevchenko over, and they both get to their feet. Shevchenko beats Fiorot to the punch with her jab repeatedly, and she shoots for a double and cannot quite get it as Fiorot hops around skillfully. Fiorot pushes her foe back to get back to kickboxing range, and she raises up a high kick that gets blocked. Fiorot shoots for a takedown, and Shevchenko sprawls against the wall. Fiorot peels her leg away and grabs her from behind, leaning on the champ and kneeing her to the back of the thigh. Shevchenko spins away, but not before eating an elbow. Fiorot’s head kick cannot find its target, and she times a right hand with a takedown shot. Fiorot uses pure brute force to lift Shevchenko up in the air and dump her down, where she laces her legs around “Bullet” to pin her to her seat. Shevchenko posts off her right arm and barely blocks an illegal knee while she was grounded that Goddard did not see. Shevchenko does not protest, and the round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot

Round 3
Goddard issues a hard warning between rounds, having acknowledged the near-foul, and the ladies get back to combat. They trade leg kicks to start, and Shevchenko goes high while Fiorot goes low a second time. Fiorot ignores a head kick that soars past her, and she stands there waiting for more offense to come at her. It is another blockable head kick, and she stuffs a takedown and reaches out with a right hand as Fiorot abandons it. The champ kicks the inside of the lead leg and flicks out a few jabs to get some space, and she nearly gets caught with a high kick. Shevchenko kicks the outer side of the leg, and they crash together when both going for level changes. Fiorot brings up a knee and an elbow, and Shevchenko scores a few jabs. When Fiorot charges, Shevchenko turns to the side and sprints around the cage to reset. Shevchenko shoots for a takedown that is unsuccessful, and she comes up top with a right hand. Fiorot fails on her own takedown effort, and she clinches up to drive four knees to the midsection. Shevchenko misses on a front kick to break, and she proceeds to work the front leg further. Fiorot flails her way in, inaccurate with her approach, and Shevchenko knees her in the face when Fiorot ducks down. This does not deter the Frenchwoman, who looks for a body lock takedown. Fiorot scores a knee or two to the inner thigh, and she plants one on the groin that Shevchenko once again does not protest. On the break, Shevchenko busts her foe’s nose open again with a right hand. The jab is soon to follow from the champ, who spins with a powerful back fist that forces Fiorot to shoot. Fiorot uses pure power to elevate her foe, and Shevchenko is able to hop around and keep her balance with the wall at her side. Fiorot knees the back of the leg, and Shevchenko pushes off the cage as Fiorot’s team claim falsely that she grabbed the fence—Goddard replies, “not even close.” Shevchenko pushes off with a punch and a kick, and the close round ends.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot

Round 4
The women meet the championship rounds, and Fiorot is amped up and ready to continue as she pitches kicks and jabs out. Fiorot lands a side kick, and Shevchenko surges forward with two hooks. Shevchenko times a head kick to spin with a wheel kick that nails the challenger on the chin. Fiorot shakes her head, and she has her nose bleeding early with peppery jabs. Fiorot ducks under one in pursuit of a double, and she succeeds in pushing Shevchenko against the cage but no further. Fiorot settles for a few knees up close and personal, and she transitions to a single that Shevchenko thwarts with a few punches up top. Fiorot zips past her foe with offense, and Shevchenko is calm and a cucumber and counters her. Shevchenko tries a quick takedown, and Fiorot backs her off with a knee to the midsection. Shevchenko knees Fiorot and skirts to the side to let the Frenchwoman go past her again, playing the matador. She drills Fiorot with a stern spinning kick to the ribcage, and all Fiorot can do is reset and try to move forward and clinch. Fiorot scores a knee in the tie-up before pushing her to the wall, where she leans heavily on her adversary and scoring a few more knees. Shevchenko breaks free while dodging a knee up the middle, and she kicks the lead leg of her advancing foe. Fiorot leaps forward and is out of range, and Shevchenko times a sneaky takedown to drag Fiorot to her seat. Fiorot rushes back to her feet and starts kneeing the champ in the side. Fiorot manages to get off an elbow in the clinch, and she pushes out a side kick. Fiorot spins with nothing, and Shevchenko counters her with a right hand that sends her flying to the ground. Shevchenko pounces, ending the round in style with ground-and-pound.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko

Round 5
The fifth round has arrived, and it could be split leading into it. Fiorot acknowledges this and fights behind her jab, while Shevchenko shifts to the side and keeps moving. Fiorot chases her down and knees her once in the belly before tying her up, and she looks for a body lock takedown. Fiorot whiffs with an elbow on the break, and a high kick grazes her chin on the way out. Shevchenko counters her over the top with a left hand, and Fiorot bites down on her mouthpiece and slings leather back her direction. Shevchenko ducks a few punches to change levels, and Fiorot stonewalls her and shoves her back. Shevchenko smacks the front leg with a kick, continuously moving and blasting Fiorot with a spinning back fist. Fiorot is tough as a stale baguette, and she pushes forward into the clinch. Shevchenko breaks away and kicks her in the side. Shevchenko pecks out a jab, and she leaps forward with a Superwoman punch and a level change. Fiorot turns her about and pushes her to the wall, but she cannot keep the champ there. Fiorot fakes a spin, and she is at least a foot away from a head kick. Shevchenko connects with a punch, and Fiorot darts towards her with a short punch salvo before clinching up again. Fiorot knees her in the belly and leans on her, winding up with distance to plant the knees on the thigh. Fiorot sneaks around to grab the back of the champion, who spins around with a right hand as Fiorot tosses a head kick at her. Shevchenko counters a kick with a right hand, and her one-two comes up short. Her second lands, but not before Fiorot scores too. Shevchenko dings the challenger with a spinning back fist, and Fiorot pays her back with a knee and an elbow. Shevchenko knees back, and she aims a head kick at the bell. They go the distance, and the scores could go either way. Both women put their hands in the air after 25 minutes of fairly evenly-matched combat.

Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Shevchenko (48-47 Shevchenko)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot (48-47 Fiorot)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Fiorot (48-47 Fiorot)

The Official Result
Valentina Shevchenko def. Manon Fiorot via Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked May 4, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

Angelo picks Manon Fiorot to become the new champion, citing her size, power, takedown defense, and striking. He acknowledges Valentina Shevchenko's evolution into wrestling but believes Fiorot's takedown defense and power will be too much. He thinks Fiorot controls the striking and keeps the fight on her feet.

"Mannon Fau is going to be the pick. I think she controls the striking. I think she keeps a fight on her feet and I think she becomes the new strawweight world champion."
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Manon Fiorot

Big Brady is hesitant but leans Fiorot. He notes Fiorot's high-volume striking, elite takedown defense (93%), and physical strength. He acknowledges Shevchenko looked great against Grasso but questions if that was due to Grasso's poor performance. He thinks Fiorot's movement and the big cage help her, and she can defend takedowns. He predicts a close decision win for Fiorot.

"I am going to go with Man on Fior to win a a close and competitive decision."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked May 8, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Connor picks Valentina Shevchenko, agreeing with Zane that she is a master of distance management. He notes that Fiorot's wrestling has not been tested against someone like Shevchenko, who has developed new takedown entries. Connor believes that Fiorot's game is not dynamic enough to exploit any potential age-related decline in Shevchenko.

"I'm surprised that chef chenko is an underdog here. I really am too. I have to assume she won't close as an underdog."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked May 7, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The host notes Shevchenko has been an underdog three times in the UFC and is 3-0 in those fights, expecting her to go 4-0. He believes she will compete in striking but ultimately use her clinch and grappling to dictate the pace and win on the scorecards.

"Shvchenko has already come into the UFC as an underdog three times, and she's 3-0 in those matchups."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked May 6, 2025 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru picks Shevchenko, believing she is being disrespected as an underdog. He notes her championship experience, reach advantage, and recent dominant win over Grasso. He questions Fiorot's performance against Rose Namajunas, who fought with a broken hand, and thinks Shevchenko's technical striking and adjustments will win her a decision.

decision
"I'm going to go with Valentina Chevhenko getting this one done by decision."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked May 8, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Zane picks Valentina Shevchenko, arguing that she is a master of distance management and preventative footwork, making it incredibly difficult for opponents to get into range. He notes that Fiorot's striking has structural flaws, with her chin rising and feet squaring when she commits. Zane believes that if Fiorot wins, it will be more a sign of Shevchenko's age than Fiorot's skill.

"I'm surprised that chef chenko is an underdog here. I really am too. I have to assume she won't close as an underdog."
WIN vs Alexa Grasso
Decision (unanimous) (50–45, 50–45, 50–45) R5 5:00 · UFC 306: O'Malley vs. Dvalishvili · Sep 14, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 18 of 100 18% 153 of 245 1 of 4 25% 2 0 0:49
Alexa Grasso 0 45 of 80 56% 193 of 233 8 of 12 66% 0 0 16:04
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 2 of 19 10% 14 of 33 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alexa Grasso 0 10 of 18 55% 36 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:28
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 2 of 13 15% 41 of 56 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
Alexa Grasso 0 3 of 8 37% 29 of 36 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:57
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 5 of 35 14% 21 of 51 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Alexa Grasso 0 16 of 26 61% 35 of 46 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:20
4 Valentina Shevchenko 0 1 of 12 8% 23 of 34 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:24
Alexa Grasso 0 2 of 5 40% 65 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:56
5 Valentina Shevchenko 0 8 of 21 38% 54 of 71 1 of 4 25% 0 0 0:25
Alexa Grasso 0 14 of 23 60% 28 of 37 3 of 6 50% 0 0 2:23
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 18 of 100 18% 8 of 74 3 of 10 7 of 16 16 of 98 1 of 1 1 of 1
Alexa Grasso 45 of 80 56% 38 of 71 3 of 5 4 of 4 39 of 72 2 of 2 4 of 6
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 2 of 19 10% 1 of 16 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alexa Grasso 10 of 18 55% 8 of 16 0 of 0 2 of 2 9 of 17 0 of 0 1 of 1
2 Valentina Shevchenko 2 of 13 15% 1 of 8 1 of 5 0 of 0 1 of 12 0 of 0 1 of 1
Alexa Grasso 3 of 8 37% 3 of 7 0 of 1 0 of 0 3 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 2
3 Valentina Shevchenko 5 of 35 14% 2 of 24 1 of 3 2 of 8 5 of 35 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alexa Grasso 16 of 26 61% 13 of 23 3 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 22 1 of 1 3 of 3
4 Valentina Shevchenko 1 of 12 8% 1 of 10 0 of 1 0 of 1 1 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
Alexa Grasso 2 of 5 40% 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Valentina Shevchenko 8 of 21 38% 3 of 16 1 of 1 4 of 4 7 of 20 1 of 1 0 of 0
Alexa Grasso 14 of 23 60% 12 of 20 0 of 1 2 of 2 13 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 8, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Angelo picks Alexa Grasso despite acknowledging that Valentina Shevchenko likely won the last fight. He sees improvements in Grasso's game between the two fights, noting she won exchanges, rounds, and even dropped Valentina in the second fight. He believes the wrestling gap is tightening and the speed gap is widening, and that Grasso is younger, faster, and more creative. He placed half a unit on Grasso at -115, recognizing it's hard for a champion to win back the belt but thinks Grasso gets it done.

Placed 0.5 units on Grasso at -115.
"I think Alexa gets it done here and I've got a half a unit on her at minus 115"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Big Brady acknowledges Shevchenko arguably won the second fight but notes her regression and Grasso's improvement. He also factors in the Mexican crowd and potential judging bias. He predicts Grasso wins a close decision.

"I got to go with grao... give me grao to win this fight and grao to win this fight by decision"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Daniel picks Alexa Grasso to win the trilogy, arguing that Valentina hasn't evolved enough and that long-reigning champions rarely reclaim their belts. He notes Grasso's faster hands, higher volume, and finishing upside, while worrying about Grasso being taken down and controlled. He believes history favors Grasso and that she will make bigger improvements.

"I think that history favors Alexa Grasso here and uh for that reason I'm picking her"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Daniel Vreeland picks Alexa Grasso because her trajectory is still upward while Valentina Shevchenko's is declining. He notes Shevchenko has lost a step in defensive grappling since the Taila Santos fight, and Grasso's striking and grappling have improved significantly. He believes Grasso's speed, cardio, and youth will be the deciding factors.

Grasso by decision +175
"I'm going with grao here I I think cardio speed all of those things and the youth is really going to be the biggest answer"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Jeff Fox agrees with Daniel Vreeland, noting Shevchenko's decline had started even before facing Grasso. He mentions Shevchenko's mindset of thinking she won the last fight is not good. He goes with the ascending fighter who is much younger and already beat her.

"I know it's boring to say but I agree with everything Gumby says there yeah chevchenko every fight even before she started um even before she ran into Grasso you know the the decline had started"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Jun 2, 2025 (fight day)

The transcript does not discuss this fight. The host only mentions Kayla Harrison vs Juliana Peña as the other title fight, not Shevchenko vs Grasso.

MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko was a minus 800 favorite in the first fight and minus 160 in the second, now a plus 120 underdog. She was up 2-1 in the first before being submitted, and should have won the last fight if not for a bad scorecard. Expects Shevchenko to come even safer and cleaner, leaning on her wrestling to win on the scorecards.

plus 120 underdog
"I do have to lean with chevchenko here once again who was a minus 800 favorite in their first fight minus 160 favorite in their second fight and now finds herself as a plus 120 Underdog"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 9, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

The MMA Guru picks Alexa Grasso. He notes Shevchenko is aging at 36 and may carry negative energy from the controversial loss. Grasso is younger and improving, and he sees her capitalizing on Shevchenko's potential emotional state. He also mentions Grasso dropped Shevchenko in the second fight and could finish with a choke or win by decision.

Grasso by decision or late rounds finish with a choke
"I'm going with Alexa Gro shev shenko is just an aging fighter had a moment in the sun... I think she can capitalize more I think she's the more improving she's the younger fighter"
LOSS vs Alexa Grasso
Draw (split) (48–47, 47–48, 47–47) R5 5:00 · UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 · Sep 16, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alexa Grasso 1 84 of 203 41% 262 of 408 1 of 2 50% 1 1 2:39
Valentina Shevchenko 0 80 of 179 44% 199 of 301 4 of 7 57% 1 0 8:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alexa Grasso 0 12 of 41 29% 60 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Valentina Shevchenko 0 14 of 40 35% 25 of 51 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:20
2 Alexa Grasso 1 28 of 42 66% 86 of 107 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
Valentina Shevchenko 0 15 of 29 51% 62 of 76 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:03
3 Alexa Grasso 0 4 of 15 26% 35 of 54 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:12
Valentina Shevchenko 0 9 of 18 50% 40 of 51 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:16
4 Alexa Grasso 0 20 of 49 40% 38 of 69 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:37
Valentina Shevchenko 0 19 of 43 44% 31 of 55 1 of 2 50% 0 0 0:58
5 Alexa Grasso 0 20 of 56 35% 43 of 89 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:30
Valentina Shevchenko 0 23 of 49 46% 41 of 68 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alexa Grasso 84 of 203 41% 54 of 151 12 of 22 18 of 30 51 of 160 31 of 35 2 of 8
Valentina Shevchenko 80 of 179 44% 61 of 158 6 of 8 13 of 13 67 of 158 6 of 8 7 of 13
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alexa Grasso 12 of 41 29% 7 of 28 2 of 4 3 of 9 9 of 35 3 of 6 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 14 of 40 35% 9 of 35 4 of 4 1 of 1 12 of 37 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Alexa Grasso 28 of 42 66% 20 of 32 6 of 7 2 of 3 10 of 24 17 of 17 1 of 1
Valentina Shevchenko 15 of 29 51% 9 of 22 0 of 1 6 of 6 7 of 14 1 of 2 7 of 13
3 Alexa Grasso 4 of 15 26% 3 of 11 0 of 1 1 of 3 4 of 15 0 of 0 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 9 of 18 50% 6 of 14 0 of 1 3 of 3 9 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Alexa Grasso 20 of 49 40% 13 of 37 2 of 5 5 of 7 11 of 39 9 of 10 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 19 of 43 44% 17 of 41 0 of 0 2 of 2 18 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Alexa Grasso 20 of 56 35% 11 of 43 2 of 5 7 of 8 17 of 47 2 of 2 1 of 7
Valentina Shevchenko 23 of 49 46% 20 of 46 2 of 2 1 of 1 21 of 47 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 10, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Angelo picks Valentina Shevchenko despite her recent loss, believing she will wrestle heavy like she did against Maia. He notes her odds are the best since 2017 and compares it to Amanda Nunes getting her belt back. He acknowledges Grasso's skills but thinks Shevchenko's adjustments will lead to victory. He has no bet yet due to PTSD from UFC 293.

"I'm still picking Valentina despite the poor performance against Tyler despite her losing this exact fight just six months ago"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 12, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady picks Shevchenko, arguing that she was winning the first fight until a mistake. He notes Shevchenko outlanded Grasso in most rounds and has more tools on the feet. He believes Grasso's takedown defense is still poor and that Shevchenko's experience and skill will prevail. He predicts a dominant decision, 49-46 or 50-45.

dominant decision
"I gotta go shift Janko here I'm gonna take her to win by a pretty dominant decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Cody picks Grasso at plus 140, emphasizing the five-year age difference and Shevchenko's decline. He points out that Grasso won the first round in their first fight, was out-striking Shevchenko, and submitted her after a spinning back kick. He believes the momentum was with Grasso and that Shevchenko's cardio may not hold up. He also notes the 90% rematch stat and says Grasso has a lot of merit.

Grasso wins in round 4 or 5 (mentioned as hedge opportunity); fight goes distance minus 135
"I'm kind of Flippy floppy on this Main Event... I'll probably go with that plus 140 on Gro as well."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Daniel Levi picks Valentina Shevchenko despite acknowledging the historical trend of long-reigning champions losing immediate rematches. He notes that submission losses are easier to recover from than knockouts, and he believes Valentina's decline may be overstated. However, he admits his bitterness over missing the plus-200 line on Grasso influences his pick, and he hopes he is wrong because he would like to see the division move forward with fresh matchups.

missed plus-200 on Grasso, now plus-145; notes buy-low spot on Valentina at minus-170
"I'm gonna go with uh Valentina but I hope I'm wrong"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Hesitant picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko had a clear grappling advantage in the first fight, controlling rounds 2 and 3 before getting caught in the fourth. She should make adjustments, trust her striking more to set up takedowns, and bank rounds early. Grasso may have improved takedown defense, but Shevchenko's strength and experience should prevail. I'm hesitant because of the similarity to Usman vs Edwards 2, but I still favor Shevchenko by decision.

"I still see the advantages in shevchenko's corner and I feel like she's going to be strong enough and maybe make the adjustments required... give me chefchenko and new to regain her title this weekend and I think she does …"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Hesitant picked Sep 13, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Alexa Grasso

Paul sides with Grasso as a slight underdog, citing Shevchenko's age (35) and recent vulnerability in fights against Taylor Santos and Jennifer Maia. He notes Grasso's youth (30) and improvement, and mentions a 90% stat where younger challengers who beat an older champion win the rematch. However, he is hesitant because the fight is in Vegas, not Mexico, and he may not bet it.

Fight goes distance minus 135; Shevchenko over 90.5 significant strikes; Shevchenko over 3 takedowns
"I'm going to slide side ever so slight with the underdog... I'll side with the champ ever ever so reluctantly."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 11, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru picks Valentina Shevchenko over Alexa Grasso, having switched from Grasso. He rewatched the first fight and notes Shevchenko was winning on all scorecards before the submission. He believes Shevchenko will focus on grappling and avoid spinning back kicks. He compares it to the Nunes-Pena rematch, suggesting Shevchenko will be more focused. He predicts a 48-47 unanimous decision for Shevchenko.

unanimous decision 48-47
"I'm going with Valentina Chef Shanker"
LOSS vs Alexa Grasso
Submission (face crank) R4 4:34 · UFC 285: Jones vs. Gane · Mar 04, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Alexa Grasso 0 87 of 145 60% 167 of 228 4 of 6 66% 0 0 5:24
Valentina Shevchenko 0 59 of 181 32% 182 of 308 0 of 2 0% 1 0 1:22
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Alexa Grasso 0 26 of 51 50% 26 of 51 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Valentina Shevchenko 0 24 of 65 36% 32 of 74 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
2 Alexa Grasso 0 12 of 22 54% 56 of 68 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:02
Valentina Shevchenko 0 7 of 36 19% 60 of 89 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:05
3 Alexa Grasso 0 27 of 32 84% 53 of 59 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:22
Valentina Shevchenko 0 15 of 37 40% 70 of 94 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Alexa Grasso 0 22 of 40 55% 32 of 50 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Valentina Shevchenko 0 13 of 43 30% 20 of 51 0 of 1 0% 1 0 1:05
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Alexa Grasso 87 of 145 60% 68 of 121 8 of 12 11 of 12 80 of 133 2 of 7 5 of 5
Valentina Shevchenko 59 of 181 32% 31 of 137 12 of 18 16 of 26 50 of 172 8 of 8 1 of 1
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Alexa Grasso 26 of 51 50% 14 of 37 5 of 6 7 of 8 25 of 48 1 of 3 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 24 of 65 36% 9 of 45 6 of 7 9 of 13 18 of 59 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 Alexa Grasso 12 of 22 54% 9 of 19 1 of 1 2 of 2 11 of 20 1 of 2 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 7 of 36 19% 6 of 33 0 of 0 1 of 3 7 of 36 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Alexa Grasso 27 of 32 84% 26 of 30 0 of 1 1 of 1 22 of 27 0 of 0 5 of 5
Valentina Shevchenko 15 of 37 40% 8 of 24 3 of 7 4 of 6 13 of 35 1 of 1 1 of 1
4 Alexa Grasso 22 of 40 55% 19 of 35 2 of 4 1 of 1 22 of 38 0 of 2 0 of 0
Valentina Shevchenko 13 of 43 30% 8 of 35 3 of 4 2 of 4 12 of 42 1 of 1 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Angelo is confident in Valentina Shevchenko, stating she is better everywhere and will push Grasso around. He notes that Grasso is not a dangerous fighter and that Shevchenko should have no issues. Angelo sees this as a relief fight for Shevchenko after the Talia Santos fight.

"Valentina's gonna sort of push her around Steamroller she's gonna be bigger stronger have the better striking have the better grappling"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady is confident in Valentina Shevchenko, citing her superior striking and grappling. He notes Grasso has struggled with grappling in the past, and Shevchenko can take her down at will and dominate on the mat. He predicts a third-round TKO for Shevchenko, dismissing the idea that Grasso can pull off an upset.

third round TKO
"give me a Valentina to win this fight give me Valentina to win this fight I'll say third round TKO for Valentina chefchenko"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody believes Shevchenko is nearly unbeatable at 125 and that Grasso lacks the grappling to exploit her. He notes Shevchenko's takedown ability and well-rounded game will be too much. He expects a decision win for Shevchenko but won't bet the -700 moneyline; he would parlay it.

Valentina by decision; would parlay but not bet moneyline alone
"minus 700 like no way but I think he chased the Valentino by decision"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Connor is confident Shevchenko wins, citing her ability to control distance and bully opponents in the clinch. He notes Grasso's poor range fighting and lack of feints or timing variation, which will make it easy for Shevchenko to counter or clinch. He believes Grasso's only path is a knockout in the pocket or a submission from her back, both unlikely. He mentions Shevchenko's declining athleticism but says Grasso's stylistic shortcomings are a death sentence.

Mentions Shevchenko opened at -550 and is now -737; Grasso +400 to +506. Implies Shevchenko is a parlay piece.
"It just seems like a death zone for Grasso. I think it looks like a pretty easily winnable fight for Valentina."
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Jacob picks Valentina Shevchenko, but notes that Grasso's volume striking could cause problems early. He believes Shevchenko may need to use her wrestling to dominate. Jacob acknowledges a path for Grasso but ultimately sees Shevchenko as the more complete fighter.

"it is a chef shenko play pretty much all the way with all that said"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko is a fast, explosive striker with a good ground game. Grasso is a good striker but has struggled with takedowns. Shevchenko will likely take the fight to the ground and control Grasso, winning a decision or possibly a TKO finish.

"I think that chefchenko is a good enough Striker to remain competitive well to have her moments and the Striking wrong here but I'd be surprised if we don't see shevchenko look to get this fight to the ground"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Mar 1, 2023 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul picks Shevchenko but prefers the over 4.5 rounds at plus money. He notes Grasso has improved grappling and has never been finished outside of a submission loss to Suarez. He sees the fight going the distance and thinks the over is a solid bet.

Over 4.5 rounds (+120); fight goes to decision
"I've been considering the over four and a half rounds it's like plus 120 plus 125 or even fight goes to decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Feb 27, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru picks Valentina Shevchenko, believing her kicks will be the difference. He notes Grasso's boxing is good but she doesn't throw many kicks, and Shevchenko's top game could also be a factor. He predicts a decision win.

"I'm gonna go with Valentina Chef shenko here... I think the kicks are going to be the Difference Maker here."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Confident picked Mar 2, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Zane agrees Shevchenko wins, emphasizing that Grasso's lack of distance management and predictable entries will lead to Shevchenko's clinch bullying. He notes Grasso is a good pocket boxer but cannot get there safely, and Shevchenko's takedown defense is weak but Grasso lacks the strength to exploit it. He sees Shevchenko's consistent game plan overwhelming Grasso.

"I think we are probably looking at the first stages of Shevchenko declining... but it still seems like a death zone for Grasso."
WIN vs Taila Santos
Decision (split) (48–47, 47–48, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 77 of 139 55% 234 of 309 3 of 5 60% 1 0 4:15
Taila Santos 0 55 of 102 53% 128 of 180 3 of 3 100% 3 2 8:49
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 10 of 16 62% 35 of 44 0 of 1 0% 0 0 1:28
Taila Santos 0 5 of 10 50% 12 of 17 0 of 0 --- 2 0 1:51
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 7 of 19 36% 64 of 81 1 of 1 100% 1 0 0:09
Taila Santos 0 4 of 7 57% 31 of 37 1 of 1 100% 0 1 3:40
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 17 of 22 77% 46 of 54 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Taila Santos 0 7 of 15 46% 10 of 18 1 of 1 100% 1 0 2:21
4 Valentina Shevchenko 0 29 of 59 49% 37 of 67 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Taila Santos 0 28 of 56 50% 33 of 62 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:17
5 Valentina Shevchenko 0 14 of 23 60% 52 of 63 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:36
Taila Santos 0 11 of 14 78% 42 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:40
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 77 of 139 55% 46 of 100 12 of 18 19 of 21 65 of 123 7 of 10 5 of 6
Taila Santos 55 of 102 53% 18 of 58 11 of 15 26 of 29 45 of 89 4 of 5 6 of 8
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 10 of 16 62% 5 of 8 2 of 4 3 of 4 6 of 11 4 of 5 0 of 0
Taila Santos 5 of 10 50% 2 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 9 1 of 1 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 7 of 19 36% 5 of 14 1 of 3 1 of 2 3 of 13 0 of 1 4 of 5
Taila Santos 4 of 7 57% 3 of 6 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 3 1 of 1 2 of 3
3 Valentina Shevchenko 17 of 22 77% 6 of 11 3 of 3 8 of 8 16 of 21 1 of 1 0 of 0
Taila Santos 7 of 15 46% 0 of 6 1 of 2 6 of 7 6 of 14 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Valentina Shevchenko 29 of 59 49% 20 of 48 6 of 8 3 of 3 27 of 56 2 of 3 0 of 0
Taila Santos 28 of 56 50% 11 of 35 6 of 9 11 of 12 23 of 49 1 of 2 4 of 5
5 Valentina Shevchenko 14 of 23 60% 10 of 19 0 of 0 4 of 4 13 of 22 0 of 0 1 of 1
Taila Santos 11 of 14 78% 2 of 4 2 of 2 7 of 8 11 of 14 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Angelo picks Shevchenko confidently, acknowledging she is the best in the division. He notes Santos is dangerous and the toughest opponent Shevchenko has faced recently, but still believes Shevchenko wins. He mentions the odds are wide but doesn't recommend a bet due to the high price.

"i still think valentina shivchenko wins this fight but there is a world where she doesn't and tyla has some success"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady picks Valentina Shevchenko to win by TKO, expressing high confidence. He notes that Santos' best wins are against lower-level competition and that she lost to Mara Romero Barela. He believes Shevchenko is superior everywhere and will break Santos down, finishing her mid-to-late in the fight.

win by TKO
"I'm gonna go with Shevchenko to win I'm gonna say Shevchenko actually finishes Santos I think it could be early but I'm kind of lean like mid to late."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody is confident in Shevchenko, citing her elite skills, wrestling advantage, and championship experience. He questions Santos' level of competition and output, noting she hasn't faced anyone near Shevchenko's caliber. He expects Shevchenko to win by decision.

Shevchenko by decision; over 3.5 rounds
"i likely end up going valentina on the top ticket but uh i i do have some hesitancy at this like exact moment"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Daniel Levi confidently picks Valentina Shevchenko, dismissing Taila Santos's chances due to her poor performance against Mara Romero Barella. He believes Shevchenko is in her prime and has never been dominated in any facet. He notes that Santos's best win is against Joanne Calderwood, who gets finished repeatedly, and that Santos's nerves against Barella indicate she cannot handle the pressure of fighting Shevchenko. He expects Shevchenko to impose her will and win decisively.

Shevchenko by decision at plus 600 (mentioned in context of Holm fight); not laying minus 600
"I got chefchenko to defend uh her belt but yeah I'm curious to see if uh Tyler Santos can bring the fight to her"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko is the better fighter everywhere. Santos has not shown enough to suggest she can compete with Shevchenko's level. Santos struggled to finish lesser opponents and lost to Mara Romero Borella. Shevchenko has fought Amanda Nunes closely and is on another level. The line is too high to bet, but Shevchenko wins easily.

Over 3.5 rounds (-160)
"I just haven't seen anything yet that's going to make me say i don't know valentina isn't going to just do what she normally does."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul is confident in Shevchenko, calling her the most skilled female fighter. He dismisses Santos' resume and believes Shevchenko's wrestling, striking, and cardio are superior. He expects a decision win for the champion.

Shevchenko by decision; over 3.5 rounds
"valentina's focused enough... she's got the wrestling advantage... she's got the striking advantage... shevchenko decision"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru confidently picks Valentina Shevchenko to win, citing her elite level and experience. He expects Shevchenko to outstrike Santos at range, chopping legs and jabbing. He acknowledges Santos has power and could land some shots, but believes Shevchenko's defense and composure will prevail. He thinks the fight will be competitive but Shevchenko will win clearly. He criticizes the title shot timing for Santos, suggesting she needed another fight.

"i'm going to go valentina shevchenko um i don't mean to have a hot take you know i mean like a shocking news i'm going with valentina chefchenko here"
WIN vs Lauren Murphy
TKO (elbows and punches) R4 4:00 · UFC 266: Volkanovski vs. Ortega · Sep 25, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 98 of 170 57% 132 of 204 3 of 4 75% 0 0 4:04
Lauren Murphy 0 11 of 91 12% 19 of 100 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:41
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 20 of 39 51% 24 of 43 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:22
Lauren Murphy 0 3 of 24 12% 3 of 24 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 10 of 17 58% 30 of 37 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:13
Lauren Murphy 0 1 of 18 5% 8 of 26 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:41
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 21 of 48 43% 25 of 52 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:17
Lauren Murphy 0 5 of 30 16% 6 of 31 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
4 Valentina Shevchenko 0 47 of 66 71% 53 of 72 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:12
Lauren Murphy 0 2 of 19 10% 2 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 98 of 170 57% 62 of 126 19 of 24 17 of 20 72 of 137 6 of 8 20 of 25
Lauren Murphy 11 of 91 12% 4 of 73 3 of 13 4 of 5 11 of 91 0 of 0 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 20 of 39 51% 9 of 24 5 of 7 6 of 8 19 of 38 1 of 1 0 of 0
Lauren Murphy 3 of 24 12% 2 of 21 0 of 2 1 of 1 3 of 24 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 10 of 17 58% 6 of 13 3 of 3 1 of 1 8 of 14 0 of 0 2 of 3
Lauren Murphy 1 of 18 5% 1 of 15 0 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 18 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Valentina Shevchenko 21 of 48 43% 9 of 33 6 of 8 6 of 7 20 of 47 1 of 1 0 of 0
Lauren Murphy 5 of 30 16% 0 of 23 2 of 4 3 of 3 5 of 30 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Valentina Shevchenko 47 of 66 71% 38 of 56 5 of 6 4 of 4 25 of 38 4 of 6 18 of 22
Lauren Murphy 2 of 19 10% 1 of 14 1 of 4 0 of 1 2 of 19 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Angelo picks Shevchenko, calling her one of the best fighters ever. He highlights her technical striking, grappling, and championship composure. He notes that Murphy's path to victory is narrow and that Shevchenko can win anywhere. Angelo expects a dominant performance.

Angelo suggests less less on Monkey Knife Fight, expecting a finish in round three. He also mentions betting on Shevchenko by stoppage in each round to guarantee profit.
"Valentina will go down as one of the best to ever do it"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady picks Valentina Shevchenko to win by fourth-round TKO. He believes Shevchenko has every advantage: striking, wrestling, and grappling. He notes Murphy is tough and has never been finished, but she has never faced anyone near Shevchenko's caliber. He expects Shevchenko to find a finish late in the fight.

fourth round tko
"i'm going to take valenciano to finish lauren murphy"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody is confident Shevchenko wins anywhere the fight goes, citing her superior kickboxing, speed, footwork, and grappling. He notes Murphy's durability and never being knocked out, but believes Shevchenko's patience and skill will lead to a late stoppage, possibly becoming the first to finish Murphy. He leans over 2.5 rounds due to Murphy's toughness.

over 2.5 rounds (-120), Shevchenko inside the distance
"i think we're all on the same page that she's going to win the fight she can win this fight anywhere she chooses to"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Sep 24, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Daniel Levi confidently picks Valentina Shevchenko, stating that Lauren Murphy's toughness and durability are not enough to overcome the massive skill gap. He notes that Murphy has never been finished, but Shevchenko's technique is superior. Levi believes it would take a fluke for Murphy to win, and he expects Shevchenko to win, though he is unsure whether it will be by decision or finish.

"give me valentina i guess the big question is inside the distance or by decision"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Sep 21, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Jacob picks Shevchenko, noting she's running out of opponents and should fight Nunes again. He praises her judo and grappling. Jacob is confident Shevchenko wins easily.

Jacob agrees with less less on Monkey Knife Fight. He mentions knockout Kings and might include Shevchenko.
"Chevy's gonna win"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Sep 25, 2021 (fight day)
Valentina Shevchenko

The host picks Valentina Shevchenko by fourth-round TKO. He believes Shevchenko will eventually set up the crucifix position and finish Murphy. He notes that Murphy is durable and may survive early, but Shevchenko's pressure will increase. He likes the over 2.5 rounds at even money. He thinks Murphy's takedown success will be temporary and Shevchenko will adapt.

Over 2.5 rounds at +100; round 4 prop for Shevchenko
"i'm gonna go with chevchenko and i'm gonna call it fourth round tko"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Sep 23, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul picks Shevchenko confidently, noting her dominance and the large talent gap. He mentions she could finish inside the distance but also acknowledges she can be patient. He is unsure about betting the moneyline due to the price and considers the over 2.5 rounds, but has no bet yet.

over 2.5 rounds (considering)
"breaking news shevchenko is my pick um i think she wins inside the distance"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Sep 19, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru picks Valentina Shevchenko over Lauren Murphy, citing Shevchenko's vast superiority in all areas. He notes that Murphy is on a five-fight winning streak but lost her last two fights (split decisions) and is 38 years old. He expects Shevchenko to win by second-round crucifix TKO, similar to her fight against Andrade, as Murphy will likely shoot for a takedown and get reversed. He dismisses Murphy's chances entirely.

second round crucifix tko
"second round crucifix tko just like the andraj fight"
TKO (elbows) R2 3:19 · UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 · Apr 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 32 of 39 82% 90 of 97 7 of 7 100% 1 0 5:11
Jéssica Andrade 0 10 of 15 66% 47 of 55 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:57
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 10 of 16 62% 26 of 32 5 of 5 100% 1 0 2:52
Jéssica Andrade 0 8 of 11 72% 31 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:20
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 22 of 23 95% 64 of 65 2 of 2 100% 0 0 2:19
Jéssica Andrade 0 2 of 4 50% 16 of 18 0 of 2 0% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 32 of 39 82% 27 of 34 3 of 3 2 of 2 9 of 15 5 of 6 18 of 18
Jéssica Andrade 10 of 15 66% 2 of 6 8 of 8 0 of 1 4 of 9 6 of 6 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 10 of 16 62% 6 of 12 2 of 2 2 of 2 7 of 12 3 of 4 0 of 0
Jéssica Andrade 8 of 11 72% 0 of 2 8 of 8 0 of 1 2 of 5 6 of 6 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 22 of 23 95% 21 of 22 1 of 1 0 of 0 2 of 3 2 of 2 18 of 18
Jéssica Andrade 2 of 4 50% 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 4 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady picks Shevchenko to win by fifth-round TKO. He notes Shevchenko's technical striking, cardio, and takedown defense will be key. Andrade is hittable and smaller, and Shevchenko can pick her apart from the outside. He thinks the bigger cage favors Shevchenko and expects a late finish or dominant decision.

Shevchenko by TKO in round 5
"give me chef chanko i'm gonna say she wins by a fifth round tko victory"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody picks Shevchenko but expresses concern about her recent reliance on grappling and low output. He notes Andrade's takedown defense and power but thinks Shevchenko's kickboxing and reach advantage will allow her to pick Andrade apart. He expects a competitive fight but ultimately sees Shevchenko winning, possibly by decision. He also likes the over 4.5 rounds.

Over 4.5 rounds (-110)
"i think chevchenko coming down they're both former 135rs she had the success against amanda nunez who's just one of the best of all time she's got that grappling she's got that ground game she's got that cardio she's got …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Daniel picks Valentina Shevchenko to win inside the distance, believing her technique will override Andrade's power. He notes Andrade is too open to getting hit and that Shevchenko can get the fight to the mat. He expects the fight to end under three rounds.

inside the distance, under three rounds
"i'm gonna go with valentina inside the distance here"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

I think Shevchenko is technically superior and will outclass Andrade. She has a diverse striking game and can also take the fight to the ground. Andrade is a brawler with power, but Shevchenko's speed and technique should allow her to pick her apart. I like Shevchenko by decision at +140, and the over 2.5 at -185 is also a solid play as Shevchenko tends to grind out wins.

Shevchenko by decision +140; over 2.5 -185
"i think that uh andraj will have an issue with the uh the speed um the the technical striking abilities of shochenko"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul picks Shevchenko to retain, citing her technical striking and reach advantage. He acknowledges Andrade's power and takedown ability but believes Shevchenko's footwork and distance control will be key. He notes the -425 price is steep but expects Shevchenko to win, possibly by decision. He also mentions the over 4.5 rounds as a potential play.

Over 4.5 rounds (-110), Shevchenko by decision
"i think she should pick andrea to part in this spot i don't love the price at minus 425 i do think that this is the riskiest fight for shivchenko in a in a minute but uh shichenko retains her …"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

The MMA Guru picks Valentina Shevchenko by unanimous decision. He acknowledges Andrade's power and momentum but believes Shevchenko is a bigger, stronger, more technical striker with better cardio. He thinks Andrade will win the first round but Shevchenko will take over in the later rounds, using grappling to neutralize Andrade's offense. He notes Andrade is moving up in weight and may swing too hard early.

"i'm going with valentina shepchenko"
Zhang Weili - Fight History
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC 322 · Nov 15, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Valentina Shevchenko 0 41 of 68 60% 137 of 186 5 of 6 83% 0 0 13:24
Zhang Weili 0 32 of 98 32% 80 of 161 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:46
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Valentina Shevchenko 0 8 of 13 61% 21 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 2:30
Zhang Weili 0 7 of 17 41% 15 of 25 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:23
2 Valentina Shevchenko 0 9 of 10 90% 34 of 38 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:09
Zhang Weili 0 1 of 8 12% 12 of 19 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Valentina Shevchenko 0 7 of 18 38% 19 of 32 1 of 2 50% 0 0 1:43
Zhang Weili 0 9 of 26 34% 12 of 32 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:13
4 Valentina Shevchenko 0 13 of 21 61% 31 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 1:16
Zhang Weili 0 10 of 30 33% 19 of 39 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Valentina Shevchenko 0 4 of 6 66% 32 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:46
Zhang Weili 0 5 of 17 29% 22 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:10
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Valentina Shevchenko 41 of 68 60% 21 of 44 14 of 17 6 of 7 27 of 47 8 of 14 6 of 7
Zhang Weili 32 of 98 32% 9 of 59 13 of 26 10 of 13 25 of 90 7 of 8 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Valentina Shevchenko 8 of 13 61% 4 of 8 2 of 3 2 of 2 6 of 8 2 of 5 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 7 of 17 41% 4 of 12 2 of 3 1 of 2 5 of 14 2 of 3 0 of 0
2 Valentina Shevchenko 9 of 10 90% 6 of 7 1 of 1 2 of 2 4 of 5 1 of 1 4 of 4
Zhang Weili 1 of 8 12% 0 of 4 0 of 3 1 of 1 1 of 8 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Valentina Shevchenko 7 of 18 38% 5 of 15 2 of 3 0 of 0 5 of 13 1 of 3 1 of 2
Zhang Weili 9 of 26 34% 1 of 15 4 of 7 4 of 4 8 of 25 1 of 1 0 of 0
4 Valentina Shevchenko 13 of 21 61% 5 of 11 6 of 7 2 of 3 11 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 10 of 30 33% 3 of 17 4 of 9 3 of 4 9 of 29 1 of 1 0 of 0
5 Valentina Shevchenko 4 of 6 66% 1 of 3 3 of 3 0 of 0 1 of 3 2 of 2 1 of 1
Zhang Weili 5 of 17 29% 1 of 11 3 of 4 1 of 2 2 of 14 3 of 3 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo leans towards Zhang Weili, citing her superior wrestling and athleticism. He believes Weili's clean double-leg takedowns will be effective against Valentina Shevchenko, who relies on striking to set up takedowns. He acknowledges Shevchenko's experience and durability but thinks Weili's speed and wrestling will be the difference.

"I am going to slightly lean way Lee here. I think the wrestling is going to be the difference."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady leans Valentina Shevchenko, citing her size advantage and natural weight class. He notes Shevchenko's wrestling ability, having taken down Manon Fiorot, and believes she can get takedowns on Zhang Weili, who was taken down multiple times by Rose Namajunas. However, he acknowledges Zhang's physical strength and says it wouldn't shock him if Zhang gets top position. Brady is not betting on this fight and predicts a decision win for Shevchenko.

"I'm going to lean Valentina Shiftenko ever so slightly. I think it's a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody picks Valentina due to her size, experience, and well-rounded skills. He notes that she is an elite kickboxer and wrestler, and that her trilogy with Grasso was a blip. He highlights that Zhang has had takedown defense issues in the past, and that Valentina consistently scores takedowns. He believes Valentina's size and strength will be key, and that she will win by decision.

Valentina Shevchenko by decision
"Valentina Shevchenko by decision play for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Connor picks Shevchenko but is hesitant, calling it a coin flip. He argues that Shevchenko's simple, patient style and mental stamina will frustrate Zhang, who struggles with distance and initiating exchanges. He notes that Zhang's wrestling might be neutralized by Shevchenko's clinch and top control, and that Zhang has been vulnerable when taken down.

Odds: Shevchenko opened +120, now -135; Zhang opened -140, now +115.
"I'm going to take Shevchenko, but I'm fascinated by the fight too. It genuinely feels like a coin flip to me."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel respects Shevchenko's technical striking and well-rounded game, but sees Zhang as the fighter making rapid improvements, especially in wrestling. He notes that Zhang has outgrappled elite wrestlers like Carla Esparza and Tatiana Suarez, while Shevchenko hasn't shown the same evolution. He also likes the dog odds on Zhang and believes she can become a double champ.

"I'm actually going to pick Jean Lee to come out here, make history, become another double champ, and bring another belt back to China."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Lucrative James picks Valentina Shevchenko to win, stating she is the greatest women's fighter of all time. He believes her wrestling and grappling are superior to Zhang's, and she can outskill her on the feet. He notes both fighters have losses due to grappling, but trusts Shevchenko's takedown accuracy and experience against tougher opponents. He expects Shevchenko to control the fight and win a decision or possibly a late submission.

"My prediction is going to be fairly short and sweet here, boys. It's going to be Valentina Chevchenko to get the win and go down as the greatest women's fighter that we have ever seen in MMA."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko's size and overall MMA advantages muzzle Zhang's style. She mixes martial arts well, sets up takedowns behind strikes, and wins on the scorecards.

"I think that Chevchenko is the side here. Look for her size and overall MMA advantages to help her really muzzle that uh style of Jeang. ... I expect her to do it on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul agrees with Cody, citing Valentina's size advantage and superior wrestling. He notes that both fighters are similar in age but that Valentina is the bigger fighter and has a better takedown ratio. He thinks the fight will come down to grappling and top position, and that Valentina will win those exchanges. He also mentions that Valentina is more technical on the feet.

"give me the bigger bigger fighter with frankly a better, you know, takedown to taken down uh ratio."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by split decision. He believes Zhang is a better fighter than Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot, who gave Shevchenko close fights. He notes Shevchenko's recent performances have been less dominant, and Zhang's grappling and striking should be competitive. The Guru also suggests promotional favoritism towards the Chinese market could influence a close decision.

"I'm gonna go Jang Lee. Lighter woman's skill. Um I think she's better than Alexa Carraso and I think that's what this is going to come down to."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Zane also picks Shevchenko hesitantly, emphasizing that Zhang's game plan may not work against Shevchenko's patience. He notes that Zhang has become a punch-and-clutch fighter but still struggles with range, and Shevchenko will force her to initiate. He sees Shevchenko's ability to maintain a low-risk fight as key.

Same odds commentary.
"I'm going to pick Shevchenko just because I think because Weilijang struggles so much with that distance, that if her opponent is well attuned to taking advantage of that fact, they can take her down."
Decision R5 5:00 · UFC 312: du Plessis vs. Strickland 2 · Feb 09, 2025
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Weili 0 53 of 87 60% 232 of 299 1 of 3 33% 1 0 10:54
Tatiana Suarez 0 12 of 36 33% 63 of 95 1 of 15 6% 0 0 5:56
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Weili 0 1 of 2 50% 31 of 37 0 of 0 --- 0 0 1:09
Tatiana Suarez 0 0 of 2 0% 23 of 26 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:08
2 Zhang Weili 0 10 of 17 58% 52 of 69 0 of 0 --- 0 0 2:19
Tatiana Suarez 0 0 of 2 0% 3 of 6 0 of 4 0% 0 0 1:27
3 Zhang Weili 0 19 of 42 45% 33 of 58 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:06
Tatiana Suarez 0 8 of 21 38% 9 of 22 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:44
4 Zhang Weili 0 7 of 7 100% 53 of 60 1 of 1 100% 1 0 4:27
Tatiana Suarez 0 3 of 5 60% 21 of 27 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
5 Zhang Weili 0 16 of 19 84% 63 of 75 0 of 2 0% 0 0 2:53
Tatiana Suarez 0 1 of 6 16% 7 of 14 0 of 5 0% 0 0 0:37
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Weili 53 of 87 60% 32 of 56 16 of 21 5 of 10 29 of 62 11 of 11 13 of 14
Tatiana Suarez 12 of 36 33% 1 of 16 2 of 6 9 of 14 10 of 33 2 of 3 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Weili 1 of 2 50% 0 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
Tatiana Suarez 0 of 2 0% 0 of 0 0 of 1 0 of 1 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Zhang Weili 10 of 17 58% 7 of 10 2 of 4 1 of 3 4 of 11 1 of 1 5 of 5
Tatiana Suarez 0 of 2 0% 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0 0 of 2 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Zhang Weili 19 of 42 45% 11 of 28 7 of 10 1 of 4 16 of 39 3 of 3 0 of 0
Tatiana Suarez 8 of 21 38% 0 of 7 2 of 5 6 of 9 6 of 18 2 of 3 0 of 0
4 Zhang Weili 7 of 7 100% 5 of 5 1 of 1 1 of 1 4 of 4 0 of 0 3 of 3
Tatiana Suarez 3 of 5 60% 1 of 3 0 of 0 2 of 2 3 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Zhang Weili 16 of 19 84% 9 of 12 6 of 6 1 of 1 4 of 6 7 of 7 5 of 6
Tatiana Suarez 1 of 6 16% 0 of 4 0 of 0 1 of 2 1 of 6 0 of 0 0 of 0
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Feb 3, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Tatiana Suarez

Big Brady picks Tatiana Suarez, believing her grappling will be a level above Zhang Weili's. He notes that Zhang has been taken down easily by lesser grapplers like Yan Xiaonan and Rose Namajunas. He is concerned about Suarez's cardio, as she has never gone 25 minutes, but thinks she will get a submission in the second round. He predicts a second-round submission.

"I'm going to say Tatiana gets it done here I'm going to say she gets it done by second round submission"
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Connor picks Zhang, citing her striking advantage and Suarez's questionable cardio. He thinks Zhang can use her kicks and movement to keep Suarez at range and tire her out. He notes that Suarez has never faced a five-round fight and faded in the third round against Nina Nunes. He also points out that Zhang has good takedown defense and can get back to her feet. However, he admits he could see Suarez winning if she gets top position early.

Same odds as Zane. Connor implies Zhang is a live underdog.
"I am going to go ahead and pick Zhang. I'd be happy to be surprised."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Feb 4, 2025 (5 days before fight)

Daniel Levi mentions the co-main event where Zhang Weili defends her belt against undefeated Tatiana Suarez. He notes that the fight is a dead pick at -110 each and asks the audience whether they think Zhang Weili retains or if Suarez becomes champion. He does not express a personal opinion or pick a winner.

"This fight is currently a dead picker minus 110 a piece do y'all think it's an still Jan way Lee or do y'all believe in destiny and fate that Tatiana sorus will come out there and become the new UFC …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tatiana Suarez

Suarez's smothering wrestling and improving BJJ are expected to open up a submission opportunity. Zhang has the striking advantage but will struggle to stop Suarez's chain wrestling and strength. Zhang's wrestling has improved but not enough to overcome Suarez. The pick is for Suarez to find the neck and force a submission.

submission
"I have to lean with Suarez here with her smothering wrestling approach and her improving BJJ game which I think will eventually open up a submission opportunity for her"
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Feb 6, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Tatiana Suarez

Zane picks Suarez despite acknowledging Zhang's advantages in striking and cardio. He believes Suarez's wrestling will be the difference, as Zhang tends to tie up and Suarez is a better wrestler. He is concerned about Suarez's cardio and lack of five-round experience, but thinks she can get a submission or control on top. He notes that Zhang's best path is to jab and kick from range, but he doubts she will do that consistently.

Suarez opened at +137, currently -113; Zhang opened at -153, currently +101. Zane mentions that Zhang underdog odds might be a bettors' take because she is battle-tested.
"I'm going to stick with my pick, but the cardio aspect of it is worth being very, very suspicious."
WIN vs Yan Xiaonan
Decision (unanimous) (49–45, 49–45, 49–45) R5 5:00 · UFC 300: Pereira vs. Hill · Apr 13, 2024
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Weili 0 106 of 157 67% 256 of 327 6 of 9 66% 2 0 12:44
Yan Xiaonan 1 43 of 85 50% 73 of 116 3 of 3 100% 0 1 2:20
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Weili 0 17 of 30 56% 20 of 33 1 of 1 100% 1 0 1:04
Yan Xiaonan 0 7 of 23 30% 7 of 23 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:20
2 Zhang Weili 0 54 of 59 91% 66 of 71 1 of 1 100% 1 0 3:51
Yan Xiaonan 0 4 of 13 30% 7 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 1 0:10
3 Zhang Weili 0 12 of 25 48% 39 of 56 0 of 3 0% 0 0 0:17
Yan Xiaonan 1 26 of 34 76% 33 of 41 2 of 2 100% 0 0 1:42
4 Zhang Weili 0 19 of 33 57% 59 of 86 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:42
Yan Xiaonan 0 4 of 10 40% 10 of 16 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
5 Zhang Weili 0 4 of 10 40% 72 of 81 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:50
Yan Xiaonan 0 2 of 5 40% 16 of 20 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Weili 106 of 157 67% 84 of 119 13 of 19 9 of 19 34 of 78 4 of 4 68 of 75
Yan Xiaonan 43 of 85 50% 21 of 60 4 of 6 18 of 19 24 of 64 3 of 4 16 of 17
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Weili 17 of 30 56% 9 of 16 4 of 6 4 of 8 13 of 26 0 of 0 4 of 4
Yan Xiaonan 7 of 23 30% 6 of 20 0 of 1 1 of 2 5 of 19 1 of 2 1 of 2
2 Zhang Weili 54 of 59 91% 51 of 54 1 of 1 2 of 4 6 of 10 0 of 0 48 of 49
Yan Xiaonan 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Zhang Weili 12 of 25 48% 4 of 14 5 of 6 3 of 5 8 of 21 4 of 4 0 of 0
Yan Xiaonan 26 of 34 76% 7 of 15 3 of 3 16 of 16 9 of 17 2 of 2 15 of 15
4 Zhang Weili 19 of 33 57% 16 of 26 3 of 6 0 of 1 5 of 14 0 of 0 14 of 19
Yan Xiaonan 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
5 Zhang Weili 4 of 10 40% 4 of 9 0 of 0 0 of 1 2 of 7 0 of 0 2 of 3
Yan Xiaonan 2 of 5 40% 0 of 2 1 of 2 1 of 1 2 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lock picked Apr 7, 2024 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo is most confident in Zhang Weili, calling her better in every aspect of MMA. He notes her dominant performance against Amanda Lemos and believes she will easily defeat Yan Xiaonan. He recommends using her as a parlay anchor.

Can be used as parlay anchor
"waye is better than her opponent in every single aspect of MMA wayy has to be the pick and you could definitely use her as a parlay anchor"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Cody sees a clear path for Zhang Weili via wrestling. He notes Yan Xiaonan has been taken down easily by Carla Esparza, Marina Rodriguez, and Mackenzie Dern, and has no get-up game. In contrast, Zhang Weili has excellent grappling, taking down Rose Namajunas five times and Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times. Cody believes Zhang can win on the feet too, but the path of least resistance is takedowns and ground control. He expects Zhang to grind Yan down and possibly secure a rear-naked choke or TKO.

"I think Zang L gets the job done and probably looks good doing it."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel Vreeland picks Zhang Weili, stating that Yan Xiaonan's path to victory is unclear. He notes that Weili is always balanced and in the right position, and that she can match volume. He also mentions that Weili beat Yan J at her own game, and that she has a huge grappling advantage if she chooses to use it.

"I gotta go with wayy Jang uh you know like the the problem with this one is the same thing with the problem with Max Holloway right when you're drawing up the paths to victory for Yan shaan what are …"
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)
Yan Xiaonan

Daniel Vreeland picks Yan Xiaonan as a massive underdog, citing his history of betting on her in every UFC fight and her value at plus odds. He acknowledges Zhang Weili's grappling advantage but believes Yan's improved takedown defense and striking can keep the fight standing, where she has the edge. He notes Yan's survival against McKenzie Dern as evidence of her improved ground game.

"I've literally bet her in every single UFC fight she's had so why would I stop now at plus 400 in her title fight?"
JE
Jeff Fox Expert Confident picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Jeff Fox picks Zhang Weili, agreeing with Vreeland. He notes that Weili is better everywhere in this fight, and that she will put on a one-sided beating. He also mentions that if she chose to grapple, she could finish the fight.

"I agree with all that and if she chose to Grapple she could grapple and finish Fantage there y huge advantage on the ground so yeah Jiang is the better everywhere in this fight"
LU
Lucrative James Expert picked Apr 10, 2024 (3 days before fight)

Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He mentions it as the all-Chinese women's title fight but does not give a prediction. He only discusses it in the context of the card's strength.

"Weili versus Yan Xiaonan the all Chinese women's title fight"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 12, 2024 (1 day before fight)
Zhang Weili

Weili should put together a better body of work with a mixture of takedowns and striking damage to retain her title and win on the scorecards. However, -500 is not accurate as Yan Xiaonan is much livelier than the underdog price indicates and will provide resistance.

decision, odds comment: -500 not accurate
"I don't think minus 500 is accurate here as I do think that Yan xan should be uh providing enough resistance to cause wey Jang some issues"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Apr 11, 2024 (2 days before fight)
Yan Xiaonan

Paul sees this as a dogger pass situation, noting that women's strawweight fights are often close and go the distance. He acknowledges Zhang Weili should be the favorite but thinks the 4-to-1 price is too wide. Paul mentions Yan Xiaonan's path to victory is a first-round knockout, pointing out that Zhang has been knocked out before (by Rose Namajunas head kick) and that Yan just knocked out Jessica Andrade in the first round. He's tempted by the +385 underdog and the 30-to-1 round one prop.

Yan Xiaonan round 1 knockout at 30-to-1 odds mentioned as a degenerate bet
"I feel like it's probably relatively competitive and probably does go some rounds... yan round one 30 to1 is out on the market... I'll probably degen a little bit into that."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 8, 2024 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by decision, dominating Yan Xiaonan. He praises Zhang's improvement and her performance against Amanda Lemos. He sees no path to victory for Yan and expects Zhang to use her grappling and striking to control the fight.

"I'm going with Jiang way Le by decision."
WIN vs Amanda Lemos
Decision (unanimous) (50–43, 50–44, 49–45) R5 5:00 · UFC 292: Sterling vs. O'Malley · Aug 19, 2023
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Weili 1 163 of 217 75% 296 of 358 6 of 7 85% 0 0 16:07
Amanda Lemos 0 24 of 63 38% 29 of 68 0 of 0 --- 2 0 0:34
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Weili 0 44 of 55 80% 74 of 90 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:33
Amanda Lemos 0 1 of 1 100% 2 of 2 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:00
2 Zhang Weili 0 16 of 20 80% 49 of 54 2 of 2 100% 0 0 3:47
Amanda Lemos 0 4 of 10 40% 5 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
3 Zhang Weili 0 20 of 29 68% 31 of 40 1 of 2 50% 0 0 2:58
Amanda Lemos 0 5 of 12 41% 8 of 15 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:19
4 Zhang Weili 0 28 of 45 62% 28 of 45 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:44
Amanda Lemos 0 13 of 37 35% 13 of 37 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:07
5 Zhang Weili 1 55 of 68 80% 114 of 129 1 of 1 100% 0 0 4:05
Amanda Lemos 0 1 of 3 33% 1 of 3 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:08
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Weili 163 of 217 75% 106 of 150 37 of 42 20 of 25 50 of 77 17 of 18 96 of 122
Amanda Lemos 24 of 63 38% 19 of 57 3 of 4 2 of 2 23 of 61 1 of 2 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Weili 44 of 55 80% 36 of 47 6 of 6 2 of 2 3 of 3 0 of 0 41 of 52
Amanda Lemos 1 of 1 100% 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 1 of 1 0 of 0 0 of 0
2 Zhang Weili 16 of 20 80% 10 of 13 6 of 6 0 of 1 5 of 8 4 of 4 7 of 8
Amanda Lemos 4 of 10 40% 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 4 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0
3 Zhang Weili 20 of 29 68% 11 of 19 5 of 6 4 of 4 8 of 14 8 of 9 4 of 6
Amanda Lemos 5 of 12 41% 4 of 11 0 of 0 1 of 1 5 of 12 0 of 0 0 of 0
4 Zhang Weili 28 of 45 62% 7 of 17 9 of 12 12 of 16 26 of 43 2 of 2 0 of 0
Amanda Lemos 13 of 37 35% 11 of 34 2 of 3 0 of 0 12 of 35 1 of 2 0 of 0
5 Zhang Weili 55 of 68 80% 42 of 54 11 of 12 2 of 2 8 of 9 3 of 3 44 of 56
Amanda Lemos 1 of 3 33% 0 of 2 0 of 0 1 of 1 1 of 3 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Aug 13, 2023 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo is very confident in Zhang Weili, believing she is head and shoulders above the division. He notes her improved wrestling and jiu-jitsu, impressive volume and cardio, and power. While Amanda Lemos has knockout power and good takedown defense, he thinks Weili can win everywhere and will keep the belt. He has her in a parlay with Marlon Vera.

Parlay with Marlon Vera
"Wei Li Zhang is the pick one of the more confident picks and I have her in that parlay with Cheeto... I think she's going to get it done I think she's going to keep the belt."
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Aug 12, 2023 (7 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by third-round knockout, acknowledging Lemos is dangerous early. He notes Lemos has power and can finish early, but her cardio fades after the first round. Zhang is improving and can wrestle, and Brady expects her to weather the early storm and take over in the later rounds.

win by KO, round 3
"I like Zhang Whaley here to win this fight I'll say third round knockout for Zhang Wei Lee"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Cody views Zhang as a complete fighter with high-level striking, wrestling, and cardio, while Lemos has not faced top competition and struggled against Angela Hill. He expects Zhang to dominate and likely win by decision, though he acknowledges women's MMA can be unpredictable. He leans towards the fight going the distance.

over 3.5 rounds at +170; fight time over 15.5 minutes
"I think the champion Zang Yale goes out and does what she does best and that's just dominate I mean she's pretty much I always calls uh I don't always call but some Fighters are just generalists like they're generally …"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Aug 17, 2023 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel Levi picks Zhang Weili, believing she is one of the best athletes in the UFC and has shown tremendous improvement, especially in grappling after training with Henry Cejudo. He notes that Lemos is dangerous early with heavy hands and a guillotine, but her cardio fades after round two due to weight cuts. Levi expects Zhang to take the fight to the ground and possibly finish via submission or ground and pound. He is confident but acknowledges that the early stand-up exchanges will be a sweat for backers at -330.

Zhang by submission or ground and pound; -330 price is high but Zhang should get it done
"I think Zhang Wally is going to get her to the ground and finish her via submission or grounding pound"
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Aug 18, 2023 (1 day before fight)
Amanda Lemos

Lucrative James picks Amanda Lemos as a value underdog, believing she hits like a truck and has a good chance of knocking out Zhang Weili. He acknowledges Zhang has more ways to win and better cardio, but at plus 250 he sees it as an easy system play. He advises against being greedy and sticking to the moneyline.

moneyline at plus 250
"Amanda Lemos knocks out Wei Lee Jiang and she becomes the new strawweight champion"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Aug 15, 2023 (4 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Zhang is well-rounded with power striking and strong wrestling. Lemos fades late and has been submitted before. Zhang will mix in takedowns and wear on Lemos, eventually finding a finish in the later rounds. The inside distance prop and under 3.5/4.5 rounds are good options.

Zhang wins inside distance, under 3.5 rounds, under 4.5 rounds
"I'm going to take Wiley Zhang I think she wins this fight inside the distance I'm going to be targeting that specific prop in the spot as well"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Aug 14, 2023 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili over Amanda Lemos. He notes Lemos' age (36) and past losses to Jessica Andrade and Angela Hill. He believes Zhang's athleticism, speed, power, and improved grappling will be too much. He cites Zhang's dominant grappling performances against Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Carla Esparza. He expects Zhang to win, possibly by submission or TKO.

"I'm going with Zhang Whaley over Amanda Lemos"
WIN vs Carla Esparza
Submission (rear-naked choke) R2 1:05 · UFC 281: Adesanya vs. Pereira · Nov 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Weili 0 6 of 32 18% 19 of 50 1 of 4 25% 0 1 0:55
Carla Esparza 0 37 of 78 47% 42 of 90 0 of 0 --- 1 1 1:30
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Weili 0 5 of 27 18% 18 of 45 1 of 3 33% 0 1 0:53
Carla Esparza 0 33 of 65 50% 38 of 77 0 of 0 --- 0 1 1:00
2 Zhang Weili 0 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:02
Carla Esparza 0 4 of 13 30% 4 of 13 0 of 0 --- 1 0 0:30
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Weili 6 of 32 18% 6 of 31 0 of 1 0 of 0 6 of 31 0 of 0 0 of 1
Carla Esparza 37 of 78 47% 20 of 58 8 of 9 9 of 11 24 of 63 0 of 0 13 of 15
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Weili 5 of 27 18% 5 of 26 0 of 1 0 of 0 5 of 26 0 of 0 0 of 1
Carla Esparza 33 of 65 50% 19 of 48 6 of 7 8 of 10 20 of 50 0 of 0 13 of 15
2 Zhang Weili 1 of 5 20% 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0 1 of 5 0 of 0 0 of 0
Carla Esparza 4 of 13 30% 1 of 10 2 of 2 1 of 1 4 of 13 0 of 0 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Nov 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo believes Weili is the more dangerous fighter with power and improved wrestling. He expects Esparza to shoot takedowns but thinks Weili's athleticism and preparation will allow her to defend and possibly out-grapple Esparza. He notes that Esparza's takedown defense is not great and that Weili could even get takedowns of her own. He picks Weili to win and expects Esparza to lose the belt quickly.

"I expect Whaley to win this fight she's absolutely the pick"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win inside the distance, expecting a brutal beatdown. He believes Esparza's wrestling won't be enough to control Zhang for 25 minutes, and that on the feet it's not close. He compares it to Esparza's loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk, where she couldn't get takedowns and got finished. He notes Zhang knocked out Joanna with a spinning back fist and looks like a killer.

Zhang Weili inside the distance; finish by TKO/corner stoppage/cut
"I think Zhang Whaley beats the crap out of Esparza I think Zhang Willy finishes as far as at some point in this fight"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Cody picks Zhang Weili to win inside the distance, specifically by TKO. He compares the fight to Esparza's first title loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk, where Esparza was pressured against the cage and ate shots until the ref stopped it. He notes that Zhang hits very hard and that Esparza needs a perfect fight to get takedowns without taking damage. Cody believes Zhang's power and pressure will lead to a stoppage, and he prefers the inside distance prop over the moneyline.

Inside the distance at -110; also considered TKO prop but recommends inside distance for safety
"I can probably will skip the money line at minus 335... inside the distance for Zhang Wei Lee is like a Peckham price right now so that's where my my money's gonna end up in the co-main event."
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Hesitant picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel Levi picks Zhang Weili to become a two-time champion, but he is hesitant due to the price (-350) and the danger of Carla Esparza's wrestling and top control. He acknowledges that Carla has a history of mauling opponents like Yan Xiaonan and making Rose Namajunas gun-shy. Levi believes Weili is more well-rounded, powerful, and athletic, and he predicts a finish. However, he warns that if Weili gets laid on, it could be a repeat of Carla's past upsets. He advises against betting Carla again after her big dog win over Rose, calling it a 'one-time well.'

Predicts a finish (KO/TKO or submission); odds mentioned: Weili -350, Esparza +290 at DraftKings
"I'm gonna go with Wiley Zhang to finish Carlos Esparza I mean that's what I kind of see happening"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The host believes Zhang will get an early knockout, likely in the first two rounds. He notes Esparza's grappling is a threat, especially if the fight goes long, but Zhang's power and improved grappling should be enough to finish early. He recommends Zhang inside the distance rather than the moneyline, expecting a KO or submission. He also notes the under 4.5 rounds at +100 as a good bet.

Zhang inside the distance, under 4.5 rounds (+100)
"I do think that Zhang inside the distance is probably the best bet in this matchup taking her to win by knockout"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Paul also picks Zhang Weili inside the distance, but specifically likes the TKO prop. He notes that Esparza's takedown defense is suspect and that when she is forced to exchange, she tends to swell up. Paul highlights Zhang's pace, accuracy, and power, and believes that Esparza will not be able to get Zhang down. He warns against taking the KO prop specifically, recommending the inside distance prop instead to avoid being burned like he was with Poliana Viana.

Inside the distance at -110; also considered TKO prop but recommends inside distance
"I actually agree with you 100... I got that TKO prop... take the inside the distance it's like there's minus one tens out there the best I see is plus 120 on the chaos let's decal."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 7, 2022 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili, citing her improved grappling under Henry Cejudo and her ability to stuff takedowns and land knees and elbows. He notes Esparza's poor striking and her loss to Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who stuffed 16 takedowns. He predicts a first-round TKO, with Weili dominating on the feet and stuffing all takedowns.

first round TKO
"you kind of have to go Zhang Wei Lee here"
KO (spinning backfist) R2 2:28 · UFC 275: Teixeira vs. Prochazka · Jun 12, 2022
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Zhang Weili 1 69 of 102 67% 94 of 130 3 of 6 50% 0 0 2:51
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 43 of 85 50% 44 of 86 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Zhang Weili 0 47 of 66 71% 72 of 94 3 of 5 60% 0 0 2:39
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 22 of 39 56% 23 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
2 Zhang Weili 1 22 of 36 61% 22 of 36 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:12
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 0 21 of 46 45% 21 of 46 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Zhang Weili 69 of 102 67% 52 of 80 12 of 15 5 of 7 29 of 59 5 of 5 35 of 38
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 43 of 85 50% 20 of 56 9 of 9 14 of 20 39 of 81 4 of 4 0 of 0
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Zhang Weili 47 of 66 71% 41 of 58 2 of 3 4 of 5 8 of 24 4 of 4 35 of 38
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 22 of 39 56% 14 of 28 2 of 2 6 of 9 20 of 37 2 of 2 0 of 0
2 Zhang Weili 22 of 36 61% 11 of 22 10 of 12 1 of 2 21 of 35 1 of 1 0 of 0
Joanna Jędrzejczyk 21 of 46 45% 6 of 28 7 of 7 8 of 11 19 of 44 2 of 2 0 of 0
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Confident picked Jun 5, 2022 (7 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo picks Zhang Weili, citing her activity and improvements since the first fight. He acknowledges Joanna arguably won the first fight and has better wins, but believes the two-year layoff will hurt Joanna's timing. He notes Zhang has added wrestling and has been fighting top competition, while Joanna has been inactive.

"i think i'm still going to stick with way lee here though and i really do think the activeness makes a difference two years away is a very long time"
BI
Big Brady Expert Hesitant picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by decision, but is hesitant due to the close nature of their first fight and Joanna's two-year layoff. He notes that Zhang has power and has been more active, while Joanna relies on volume and movement. He expects a razor-close decision and is not confident in the judges.

"I'm going with Zhang Weili here I like she's been more active I like the power I think she's going to inflict the damage here but it's going to be a razor razor razor close fight."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Cody picks Zhang, believing the three-round fight favors her power and aggression. He notes Zhang's wrestling improvements with Henry Cejudo and thinks she can steal rounds with takedowns. He acknowledges Joanna's cardio but thinks Zhang's power will be decisive.

"three-round fight i think it's zhang wei lee... i think she's a rightful favorite"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert picked Jun 9, 2022 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel Levi is on the fence for this fight. He acknowledges that the first fight was very close and that Joanna won the early rounds on the scorecards. He notes that Zhang has power and could land a big shot, but also that Joanna has better volume and defense. He mentions the layoff for Joanna could be a positive or negative, and that the fight being in Singapore might favor Zhang. He ultimately picks Zhang but says he has no idea and is not betting the fight.

fight goes the distance (mentioned by co-host as a good bet)
"you're going Joanna so I'm gonna go on the opposite side and take y lead but I mean like I ain't putting money on that I have no idea dude"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Jun 10, 2022 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Weili has more power and her shots are more impactful. Joanna is coming off a long layoff and this is a three-round fight, which favors Weili's power. Joanna's output may not be enough to overcome the damage Weili lands. Weili also has a wrestling edge. I think Weili wins a close decision or late finish.

"I think the three-rounder more so favors while he's dying here because she can go out there and continue to throw her power shots."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Lean picked Jun 8, 2022 (4 days before fight)
Joanna Jędrzejczyk

Paul takes Joanna as an underdog, citing her speed and volume. He thinks Joanna won two of the first three rounds in the first fight and that a three-round fight favors her. He acknowledges Zhang's power but believes Joanna's pace and experience can edge a decision.

Joanna by decision
"i'm taking a flyer i think on joannie and jay check... underdog number one joining energy check"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Jun 6, 2022 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by 29-28 decision. He argues that the three-round fight favors Zhang's power over Joanna's volume, and that Zhang has improved her grappling significantly, which she may mix in. He criticizes Joanna's two-year layoff and lack of dedication compared to Zhang's focused training. He expects Joanna to win the third round but too little too late. He notes that Zhang's power shots were more effective in their first fight.

"i'm going to side with zhang whaley winning this one i think she'll mix in the grappling on you anna early"
LOSS vs Rose Namajunas
Decision (split) (47–48, 48–47, 49–46) R5 5:00 · UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 · Nov 06, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rose Namajunas 0 86 of 168 51% 130 of 219 2 of 2 100% 0 1 7:00
Zhang Weili 0 83 of 173 47% 162 of 272 5 of 11 45% 0 0 3:37
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rose Namajunas 0 20 of 36 55% 22 of 38 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Zhang Weili 0 22 of 38 57% 36 of 56 1 of 3 33% 0 0 1:08
2 Rose Namajunas 0 20 of 45 44% 22 of 48 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:31
Zhang Weili 0 16 of 39 41% 21 of 44 1 of 3 33% 0 0 0:38
3 Rose Namajunas 0 14 of 38 36% 16 of 40 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:02
Zhang Weili 0 25 of 51 49% 29 of 55 1 of 1 100% 0 0 0:57
4 Rose Namajunas 0 14 of 23 60% 39 of 49 0 of 0 --- 0 1 2:32
Zhang Weili 0 12 of 27 44% 32 of 50 2 of 3 66% 0 0 0:54
5 Rose Namajunas 0 18 of 26 69% 31 of 44 1 of 1 100% 0 0 3:55
Zhang Weili 0 8 of 18 44% 44 of 67 0 of 1 0% 0 0 0:00
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rose Namajunas 86 of 168 51% 57 of 131 12 of 17 17 of 20 60 of 136 6 of 6 20 of 26
Zhang Weili 83 of 173 47% 36 of 112 14 of 16 33 of 45 64 of 138 5 of 8 14 of 27
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rose Namajunas 20 of 36 55% 11 of 25 3 of 5 6 of 6 17 of 33 3 of 3 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 22 of 38 57% 6 of 19 5 of 5 11 of 14 19 of 34 1 of 1 2 of 3
2 Rose Namajunas 20 of 45 44% 12 of 36 5 of 6 3 of 3 16 of 39 2 of 2 2 of 4
Zhang Weili 16 of 39 41% 6 of 28 4 of 5 6 of 6 13 of 36 1 of 1 2 of 2
3 Rose Namajunas 14 of 38 36% 11 of 33 0 of 0 3 of 5 13 of 37 1 of 1 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 25 of 51 49% 13 of 33 4 of 4 8 of 14 19 of 43 3 of 4 3 of 4
4 Rose Namajunas 14 of 23 60% 9 of 16 3 of 5 2 of 2 10 of 18 0 of 0 4 of 5
Zhang Weili 12 of 27 44% 6 of 20 1 of 1 5 of 6 9 of 16 0 of 2 3 of 9
5 Rose Namajunas 18 of 26 69% 14 of 21 1 of 1 3 of 4 4 of 9 0 of 0 14 of 17
Zhang Weili 8 of 18 44% 5 of 12 0 of 1 3 of 5 4 of 9 0 of 0 4 of 9
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo picks Zhang Weili, believing she will make adjustments after the first fight. He thinks Weili will protect her chin, push the pace, and use her boxing to outwork Rose. He notes that Rose's win came from a single head kick and that there wasn't much to analyze from the short fight. He sees Weili's power and determination as key factors.

"i'm leaning towards wayley here honestly uh i think she'll make the adjustments she'll protect her chin i think she'll push the pace in this fight"
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Nov 1, 2021 (5 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by decision. He notes Zhang's power, volume, and cardio advantage, while Rose may slow down as the fight goes on. Brady thinks the first few rounds will be competitive, but Zhang's pressure and durability will wear on Rose. He also mentions Zhang's move to Fight Ready and her takedown potential, though Rose is dangerous on the ground. He expects Zhang to win down the stretch, possibly with a late finish.

win by decision
"give me zhang waili to win give me zhang wai lee to win by decision"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Cody agrees with Paul, citing Rose's precision striking and ability to find openings. He notes Zhang's durability but believes Rose's technique and submission game give her the edge. He compares it to Rose's first win over Joanna and sees value in the champion as an underdog.

"i agree 100 with you my friend i don't think you can turn away from it i think it's a live dog shot"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Nov 4, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Daniel Levi picks Rose Namajunas to defend her belt, expressing that the line is disrespectful to Rose at plus 105. He believes Rose is the better striker with more power and setups, and that Zhang Weili may be in denial about the first fight. Levi expects adjustments from Zhang, such as calf kicks, but thinks Rose's toughness and experience in rematches (3-0) will carry her. He notes that Rose is undefeated at Madison Square Garden and that Zhang's cardio advantage may be overstated.

plus 105 underdog
"why is rose nominees the underdog in this spot i mean ... i am going to pick her to defend her belt here against wylie"
JA
Jacob Lines Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Jacob picks Rose Namajunas, saying he will never bet against her again. He believes Weili's new focus on wrestling with Henry Cejudo could backfire, as Rose has excellent jiu-jitsu. He has a moneyline bet and a submission prop on Rose. He thinks Rose has the 'it factor' and thrives in big moments.

Submission win prop; Moneyline bet at -102 (2 units)
"i'm never gonna bet against rose again man i think she's burned me so many times... i put a money line bet on her like a two unit bet i even put so i put a submission win on her …"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Lean picked Nov 5, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Zhang Weili

The host leans Zhang by decision, expecting her to use takedowns to sway judges in close rounds. He thinks the fight goes 25 minutes and likes the over 4.5 rounds at -125. He notes Zhang's new camp but limited time to adjust.

Over 4.5 rounds (-125), Zhang by decision (+250)
"i'm going to go wildly zhang i'm going to pick her by decision"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 3, 2021 (3 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

Paul picks Rose as a live underdog, noting she knocked Zhang out in the first fight and is being undervalued. He questions Zhang's wrestling improvements with Cejudo and believes Rose's precision striking and submission threat are key. He sees the line as too easy to pass up.

"rose is the pick for me"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Oct 31, 2021 (6 days before fight)
Rose Namajunas

The Guru picks Rose Namajunas, citing her youth, reach advantage, and grappling edge. He believes Zhang's mindset will be affected by her first KO loss and the crowd booing her. The Guru predicts a third-round rear-naked choke submission, noting Namajunas' ability to bounce back and her training with Trevor Wittman.

third round rear naked choke
"I'm going to go over eunis uh mainly because."
LOSS vs Rose Namajunas
KO (head kick) R1 1:18 · UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal 2 · Apr 24, 2021
Totals
FighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
Rose Namajunas 0 7 of 11 63% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Zhang Weili 1 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Per Round
RdFighterKDSig. Str.Sig. Str. % Total Str.TDTD % Sub. AttRev.Ctrl
1 Rose Namajunas 0 7 of 11 63% 7 of 11 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:00
Zhang Weili 1 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 --- 0 0 0:03
Significant Strikes
FighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
Rose Namajunas 7 of 11 63% 1 of 4 0 of 1 6 of 6 7 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 3 of 3
Significant Strikes Per Round
RdFighterSig. Str.Sig. Str. % HeadBodyLeg DistanceClinchGround
1 Rose Namajunas 7 of 11 63% 1 of 4 0 of 1 6 of 6 7 of 11 0 of 0 0 of 0
Zhang Weili 5 of 10 50% 5 of 10 0 of 0 0 of 0 2 of 7 0 of 0 3 of 3
BI
Big Brady Expert Confident picked Apr 20, 2021 (4 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Big Brady picks Zhang Weili to win by fifth-round knockout. He believes Zhang's power and durability will be too much for Rose, who slowed down in her last fight. He notes Rose has only one KO win and lacks power, while Zhang has a 100% takedown defense and can go five rounds. He expects Zhang to break Rose down late.

Zhang Weili by KO in round 5
"gimme zhengwei lee for a fifth round knockout"
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Cody leans toward Zhang, noting her pressure and power. He thinks Rose's technical striking could give her success early but doubts she can finish Zhang. He likes the over 4.5 rounds and mentions that Zhang's chin and cardio are advantages. He also notes that Rose's mental state could be a factor but ultimately sees Zhang retaining.

Over 4.5 rounds (-135)
"i think the over i like that quite a bit um i just think the more impactful strikes will be landed by willy zhang"
DA
Daniel Levi Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel picks Zhang Weili, citing her evolution and ability to pull away in later rounds. He notes Rose Namajunas has a history of breaking in the third round and beyond, while Weili has shown heart and durability. He expects Weili to possibly get a finish in the third, fourth, or fifth round.

finish in rounds 3-5
"i think wylie zhang is gonna pull away and possibly get this finish somewhere in that third fourth or fifth round"
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Apr 23, 2021 (1 day before fight)
Zhang Weili

I think Zhang's power and pressure will be too much for Rose over five rounds. Rose tends to fade in later rounds, and Zhang has shown she can break opponents down. Zhang's leg kicks and combinations will slow Rose down. I like Zhang to finish late, so Zhang by KO at +255 and the round 4/5 props are appealing. The over 3.5 at -170 is also a good play as the fight should be competitive early.

Zhang by KO +255; Zhang round 4 +1400; Zhang round 5 +1900; over 3.5 -170
"i think that we see zhang go out there and finish rose"
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Apr 22, 2021 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Paul picks Zhang Weili, citing her durability, cast-iron mentality, and power. He acknowledges Rose's technical striking and footwork but believes Zhang's pressure and power will be decisive. He expects the fight to go the distance and likes the over 4.5 rounds. He notes Rose's mental fragility as a potential factor but thinks Zhang's chin and cardio will carry her.

Over 4.5 rounds (-135), fight goes distance
"i think the more impactful strikes will be landed by willy zhang and uh and it's and still at the end of the night yeah"
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Apr 16, 2021 (8 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The MMA Guru picks Zhang Weili by fourth-round TKO. He believes Zhang has more power, better cardio, and a higher pace in five-round fights. He thinks Rose slows down and that Zhang will chop at the legs, slow Rose's footwork, and finish her later. He also notes Zhang's grappling is good enough to avoid being exposed on the ground.

TKO in fourth round
"i'm going with whaley zhang"
Expert Picks (10)
AN
Angelo Bodetti Expert Lean picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Angelo leans towards Zhang Weili, citing her superior wrestling and athleticism. He believes Weili's clean double-leg takedowns will be effective against Valentina Shevchenko, who relies on striking to set up takedowns. He acknowledges Shevchenko's experience and durability but thinks Weili's speed and wrestling will be the difference.

"I am going to slightly lean way Lee here. I think the wrestling is going to be the difference."
BI
Big Brady Expert Lean picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Big Brady leans Valentina Shevchenko, citing her size advantage and natural weight class. He notes Shevchenko's wrestling ability, having taken down Manon Fiorot, and believes she can get takedowns on Zhang Weili, who was taken down multiple times by Rose Namajunas. However, he acknowledges Zhang's physical strength and says it wouldn't shock him if Zhang gets top position. Brady is not betting on this fight and predicts a decision win for Shevchenko.

"I'm going to lean Valentina Shiftenko ever so slightly. I think it's a decision."
CO
Cody Saftic Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Cody picks Valentina due to her size, experience, and well-rounded skills. He notes that she is an elite kickboxer and wrestler, and that her trilogy with Grasso was a blip. He highlights that Zhang has had takedown defense issues in the past, and that Valentina consistently scores takedowns. He believes Valentina's size and strength will be key, and that she will win by decision.

Valentina Shevchenko by decision
"Valentina Shevchenko by decision play for me."
CO
Connor Ruebusch Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Connor picks Shevchenko but is hesitant, calling it a coin flip. He argues that Shevchenko's simple, patient style and mental stamina will frustrate Zhang, who struggles with distance and initiating exchanges. He notes that Zhang's wrestling might be neutralized by Shevchenko's clinch and top control, and that Zhang has been vulnerable when taken down.

Odds: Shevchenko opened +120, now -135; Zhang opened -140, now +115.
"I'm going to take Shevchenko, but I'm fascinated by the fight too. It genuinely feels like a coin flip to me."
DA
Daniel Vreeland Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

Daniel respects Shevchenko's technical striking and well-rounded game, but sees Zhang as the fighter making rapid improvements, especially in wrestling. He notes that Zhang has outgrappled elite wrestlers like Carla Esparza and Tatiana Suarez, while Shevchenko hasn't shown the same evolution. He also likes the dog odds on Zhang and believes she can become a double champ.

"I'm actually going to pick Jean Lee to come out here, make history, become another double champ, and bring another belt back to China."
LU
Lucrative James Expert Confident picked Nov 9, 2025 (6 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Lucrative James picks Valentina Shevchenko to win, stating she is the greatest women's fighter of all time. He believes her wrestling and grappling are superior to Zhang's, and she can outskill her on the feet. He notes both fighters have losses due to grappling, but trusts Shevchenko's takedown accuracy and experience against tougher opponents. He expects Shevchenko to control the fight and win a decision or possibly a late submission.

"My prediction is going to be fairly short and sweet here, boys. It's going to be Valentina Chevchenko to get the win and go down as the greatest women's fighter that we have ever seen in MMA."
MM
MMA Lock of the Night Expert Confident picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Shevchenko's size and overall MMA advantages muzzle Zhang's style. She mixes martial arts well, sets up takedowns behind strikes, and wins on the scorecards.

"I think that Chevchenko is the side here. Look for her size and overall MMA advantages to help her really muzzle that uh style of Jeang. ... I expect her to do it on the scorecards."
PA
Paul Shaughnessy Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Paul agrees with Cody, citing Valentina's size advantage and superior wrestling. He notes that both fighters are similar in age but that Valentina is the bigger fighter and has a better takedown ratio. He thinks the fight will come down to grappling and top position, and that Valentina will win those exchanges. He also mentions that Valentina is more technical on the feet.

"give me the bigger bigger fighter with frankly a better, you know, takedown to taken down uh ratio."
TH
The MMA Guru Expert Confident picked Nov 12, 2025 (3 days before fight)
Zhang Weili

The Guru picks Zhang Weili to win by split decision. He believes Zhang is a better fighter than Alexa Grasso and Manon Fiorot, who gave Shevchenko close fights. He notes Shevchenko's recent performances have been less dominant, and Zhang's grappling and striking should be competitive. The Guru also suggests promotional favoritism towards the Chinese market could influence a close decision.

"I'm gonna go Jang Lee. Lighter woman's skill. Um I think she's better than Alexa Carraso and I think that's what this is going to come down to."
ZA
Zane Simon Expert Hesitant picked Nov 13, 2025 (2 days before fight)
Valentina Shevchenko

Zane also picks Shevchenko hesitantly, emphasizing that Zhang's game plan may not work against Shevchenko's patience. He notes that Zhang has become a punch-and-clutch fighter but still struggles with range, and Shevchenko will force her to initiate. He sees Shevchenko's ability to maintain a low-risk fight as key.

Same odds commentary.
"I'm going to pick Shevchenko just because I think because Weilijang struggles so much with that distance, that if her opponent is well attuned to taking advantage of that fact, they can take her down."