VALENTINA SHEVCHENKO loves capturing a lot that she has a gun tattoo.
And the Polish star cannot wait to make historical past alongside sister Antonina when she headlines UFC 255 on Saturday – defending her flyweight crown in opposition to Brazilian Jennifer Maia.
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However her fourth title defence shall be a very powerful of all as she shares the evening together with her older sister, who faces Ariane Lipski on the undercard.
They’ve fought on the identical invoice collectively, however solely throughout their Muay Thai and kickboxing days.
That means the pay-per-view occasion shall be historic as a result of for the primary time two sisters are combating side-by-side.
Valentina, 32, advised Hablemos MMA: “This card is extra particular than others as a result of for the primary time within the historical past of the UFC, two sisters are going to battle on the identical card.
“But it surely’s not solely sisters but in addition brothers.
“Sure, there was within the UFC brothers that battle in numerous weight courses and completely different occasions, however on the identical occasion, and similar (weight class) there hasn’t been.
“This might be the primary time.”
The sisters have educated collectively all through their preparations forward of this weekend.
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But they have also been spending their downtime with each other, including shooting and canoeing.
Valentina is such an avid-shooter that she has a Glock-17 tattoo on her torso and earned the nickname ‘The Bullet’.
She and Antonina were introduced to guns by their trainer Pavel Fedotov, a former Soviet soldier.
They often shoot together and were captured enjoying themselves in an outdoor range by UFC cameras.
Valentina mentioned: “I began to shoot in 2008. Pavel began to coach us again in Russia and we did quite a lot of defensive pistol competitors.
“It is my large affected person as a result of you must shoot with quite a lot of precision however on the similar time very quick.”
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Valentina – who’s fluent in English, Spanish and Russian – revealed she received a Glock-17 tattoo as she feels it represents an MMA fighter.
She defined: “[Glock] 19 is one other landmark for me.
“It’s common, identical to an MMA fighter. That’s the reason I received a tattoo on my decrease stomach a number of years in the past.
“So, now I can all the time hold it close to me.”
Valentina’s experience for weapons and apparent combating expertise has followers predicting she is a undercover agent.
In any case, her idol is James Bond herself – however denied that she is working with 007 in secret.
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She mentioned: “I’m not a spy.” Earlier than including that the Bond character is an enormous inspiration to her.
Valentina defined: “James Bond is a common one that can do something.
“Like I mentioned yesterday, driving automotive, driving airplane, sailboat, like doing something. Shoot from no matter arm he desires.
“That is my form of motivation in life to be a form of comparable particular person.
“To know extra, to study, to get completely different information is what impressed me loads and that’s why I hold my way of life, what I’ve proper now the identical approach.”
Valentina debuted within the UFC in 2015 having been crushed simply as soon as in her 13 fights which have been throughout Europe, Asia, South America and the US.
She would go on to lose solely twice – each in opposition to the legendary Amanda Nunes at bantamweight – earlier than profitable the UFC flyweight belt in 2018.
To take action, Valentina defeated fellow Pole and future Corridor of Famer Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who stepped up from strawweight.
The 125lb queen stopped Katlyn Chookagian in round three in her last fight and defends her strap in opposition to ex-Invicta champion Maia.
Sister Antonina, 35, is 8-2 in her profession, and was beaten by Katlyn Chookagian in her last fight.
In addition to combating, capturing and international languages, Valentina can now add performing to her spectacular resume.
She lately starred alongside Halle Berry – who additionally directed – within the 2020 film Bruised, a couple of disgraced MMA fighter who picks up the gloves once more.
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Valentina and Oscar-winner Berry would then strike up an unlikely friendship.
Berry advised Jimmy Fallon: “She’s a beast. However I could not have requested for a greater instructor, a greater scene mate, a greater battle accomplice.
“She simply introduced a lot actuality to it for me. At occasions I felt like I used to be actually combating.”
Berry watched cageside earlier within the yr as Valentina retained her belt.
However she shall be unable to take action on Saturday because the UFC as soon as once more goes behind-closed-doors at their Apex Heart in Las Vegas.
Berry is certain to be tuned in to observe her co-star main-event her first ever PPV card.
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