Valentina Shevchenko, the former UFC flyweight champion, has revealed that she suffered a major injury during her split draw with Alexa Grasso at UFC Noche on Saturday night.
Shevchenko said that she broke her thumb in the first round of the fight and was in immense pain throughout the rest of the bout.
“I broke my finger in the first round, my thumb, and now it’s like I cannot move it, and I felt it through a whole round,” Shevchenko told reporters after the fight.
“It was really hard to fight with this kind of pain, but I’m a fighter, and I never give up. I tried my best, but it was not enough.”
Shevchenko said that she is not sure how long she will be out of action due to the injury, but she is determined to come back and reclaim her title.
“I’m going to go to the doctor tomorrow and see what they say,” Shevchenko said. “I don’t know how long I’m going to be out, but I’m going to come back stronger than ever. I’m still the champion, and I’m going to prove it.”
Shevchenko’s injury is a major setback for her career. She had been on a nine-fight winning streak before the draw with Grasso, and she was widely considered to be the best female flyweight in the world.
It remains to be seen when Shevchenko will be able to return to action, but she is sure to be one of the most anticipated comebacks in the UFC when she does.
Shevchenko’s injury is also a reminder of the risks that fighters take every time they step into the cage. Even the best fighters in the world are not immune to injuries, and Shevchenko’s story is a reminder that anything can happen in a fight.