Women's Flyweight (125 lbs)
The Valentina Shevchenko era, the Alexa Grasso trilogy, and the deepest active women's UFC division.
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The division
UFC Women's Flyweight is up to 125 lbs. Inaugurated in late 2017 via The Ultimate Fighter Season 26 tournament. The division's competitive depth grew quickly through the Valentina Shevchenko era and is now the deepest active women's UFC weight class.
The champion lineage
- 2017: Nicco Montaño — inaugural tournament winner, stripped of title after weight miss/medical issues
- 2018: Valentina Shevchenko — won title from Joanna Calderwood at UFC 231 (December 2018)
- 2018-2023: Valentina Shevchenko — seven consecutive title defenses
- 2023: Alexa Grasso — won title at UFC 285 (March 2023) by submission round 4
- 2023-2024: Alexa Grasso (continuing) — majority draw vs Shevchenko at Noche UFC (September 2023)
- 2024-present: Valentina Shevchenko — won title back at UFC 306 (September 2024), defended once
The Shevchenko era 1 (2018-2023)
Valentina Shevchenko's first flyweight reign produced seven consecutive title defenses:
- Jéssica Eye (UFC 238, June 2019) — spinning back-fist KO
- Liz Carmouche 2 (UFC on ESPN+ 14, August 2019) — UD
- Katlyn Chookagian (UFC 247, February 2020) — TKO round 3
- Jennifer Maia (UFC 255, November 2020) — UD
- Jessica Andrade (UFC 261, April 2021) — TKO round 2
- Lauren Murphy (UFC 266, September 2021) — TKO round 4
- Taila Santos (UFC 275, June 2022) — split decision
- Alexa Grasso 1 (UFC 285, March 2023) — submission loss in round 4
The submission loss to Grasso ended the seven-defense streak and started the Grasso-Shevchenko trilogy.
The Alexa Grasso trilogy (2023-2024)
Three bouts:
- UFC 285 (March 2023): Grasso wins title via submission round 4
- Noche UFC (September 2023): majority draw — Grasso retains
- UFC 306 (September 2024): Shevchenko regains title via UD
The trilogy was the most-decorated women's flyweight rivalry in MMA history.
The Shevchenko era 2 (2024-present)
Shevchenko defended the recaptured title at UFC on ABC 9 (April 2025) — UD over Manon Fiorot, the undefeated contender.
The GOAT case
Valentina Shevchenko is the consensus all-time women's flyweight #1. The seven-defense reign, the Muay Thai foundation, the trilogy with Grasso, and the title-recapture make her case definitive.
Amanda Nunes — who never fought at flyweight but defeated Shevchenko twice at bantamweight — is the only credible counter-case if cross-divisional comparisons are allowed. The Nunes-Shevchenko bouts (UFC Fight Night 47 March 2016, UFC 215 September 2017) both went to Nunes via decision, with the second being widely viewed as a robbery for Shevchenko.
Notable bouts
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Joanna Jędrzejczyk (UFC 231, December 2018, title-winning UD)
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Jéssica Eye (UFC 238, June 2019): the spinning back-fist KO.
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Jessica Andrade (UFC 261, April 2021): the TKO finish at the full-capacity UFC 261 card.
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Taila Santos (UFC 275, June 2022): the closest title defense of Shevchenko's first reign.
- Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko 1 (UFC 285, March 2023): the title-changing submission upset.
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Alexa Grasso 3 (UFC 306, September 2024): the title-reclaiming UD.
- Valentina Shevchenko vs Manon Fiorot (UFC on ABC 9, April 2025): the technically dominant defense.
The women's flyweight division's combination of Shevchenko's reign and the modern Grasso / Fiorot / Erin Blanchfield contender bracket makes it the deepest women's weight class as of 2025.