Shevchenko Vows to Never Fight Sister: ‘It’s Not Something My Mom Would Want to See’

Valentina Shevchenko will be heavily favored to capture flyweight gold at UFC 228 on Saturday when she squares off against reigning champion Nicco Montano.

If she wins as expected, any number of contenders could emerging in what is a still-growing division. When it comes to women’s divisions in the UFC, flyweight is not currently as deep as bantamweight or strawweight, both of which have had more time to develop. No matter how wide open things might get, Shevchenko has no plans to face her sister, Antonina, in the Octagon.

Antonina Shevchenko recently earned a UFC deal with a second-round technical knockout victory over Jaimelene Nievera in a matchup on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series on June 26.

“She [got] her contract in UFC, she will have her first fight in UFC so she is just entered to these positions and she has to fight for becoming the No. 1 contender,” Valentina said during a recent media call. “I’m pretty sure she will do great and she will be No. 1 contender for the title, but I can say exactly that I never will fight my sister because it's not something that my mom will want to see us fighting each other. No.”

Antonina, who is 6-0 as a professional, still has plenty of work to do to ascend the ranks at 125 pounds — especially with her Octagon debut yet to be announced. Valentina, of course, has a wealth of experience against top competition in the UFC, including a narrow title loss to 135-pound champion Amanda Nunes in July 2017. Valentina sees plenty other available options in both weight classes that would be preferable to a family affair in the Octagon.

“We have so many, so many other opponents in this weight class and other weight divisions, so there are so many possibilities to fight with another girl ,and I don't see any reason to fight my sister,” she said.