Valentina Shevchenko is perhaps one of the best female UFC hunters of all time, but MMA is not the only sport in which she excels.
The dual UFC champion women's flying weight is the #1 pound-for-pound female hunter in the promotion and is considered one of the best female UFC hunters of all time.
While she prepares for Manon Fiorot on UFC 315, the Spirit of Valentina Shevchenko will only be focused on her MMA training.
As soon as its UFC career is completed, she has the chance to reach a different competitive field.
Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Valentina Shevchenko competes with 3-Gun gun shooting competitions
In addition to the Octagon, Shevchenko has a sharp eye for photographing while competing in several shooting events.
“Bullet” competes in IPSC, IDPA and 3-Gun events, using its speed, concentration and problem-solving skills to fight for the first place while competing against other sharp shooters.
The UFC champion women's flying weight was introduced in training of firearms by her MMA coach Pavel Fedotov. Fedotov trained both Valentina and her sister Antonina and introduced her to shooting weapons in 2010.
She spoke about her love for weapons and competitive shootings to Gun Cult Magazine in 2018, emphasizing how important it is to take firearm safety seriously and with discipline.
Shevchenko said: “I know exactly when you have a gun in your hand, it's not time for jokes. I concentrate on what I do and leaves all the smiles behind.”
The Kyrgyz hunter seems to excel in everything she focuses on, whether it shoots or fights in the Octagon.
Shevchenko feels like shooting helps her UFC career
Although you may not think that shooting and MMA have a lot of crossover, Shevchenko has revealed how her shooting training helps her to win in the Octagon.
She appeared on the Ariel Helwani show, where Shevchenko explained how the discipline and versatility she learned during the shooting range helped her in MMA.
“I go to the shooting range. On a day I take a gun, another day, another. Every time it's about searching for perfection, finding the best.
“I relate firearms to mixed martial arts because MMA is the largest modern combat sport. It is universal. A hunter must be skilled in wrestling, Muay Thai, boxing and kicking. Combining the best qualities of every discipline.
“It is the same with firearms and shooting sports. You look for something reliable, something that works every time, is comfortable and easy to use.
“There are so many connections between the two that when I'm in the reach, tactical shooting exercises do, I think it also helps my martial arts training. It's all the same. All.”
Her love for the sport is so great that she wants to keep photographing, even after Shevchenko retires from fighting.
After retiring from fighting, Shevchenko wants to concentrate on competitive shooting
While she is at the top of her game in the UFC, Shevchenko has one eye on competitive shooting as soon as she withdrew from the Octagon.
When Shevchenko appeared on the Jre MMA show, she spoke extensively about her love for weapons and competitive shooting.
Shevchenko said: “When I'm done fighting, I may try a shooting match. Maybe after my fighting career I will compete with photographing. I think it's an excellent sport.
I like the style of photography where you are not only in one position that strives for accuracy. You move – open, lying, sitting. Shooting from different positions. It is like a circuit with different goals and different goals.
It is a mix of speed, accuracy and problem solution. If your gun gets stuck, you have to repair it quickly and continue. So it's really a great sport. “
Given her love for the sport and what people have said about her ability, Shevchenko could become a real power in competitive shooting as soon as she hangs her gloves.