Antonina Shevchenko

Antonina Shevchenko is the older sister of current UFC women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko and carries one of combat sports' most storied family legacies. Born in Kyrgyzstan in 1984, she was introduced to martial arts at age 7 by her mother Elena, a taekwondo master and president of the Kyrgyzstan Muay Thai Federation. Training under coach Pavel Fedotov for over 20 years alongside her sister, Antonina built a legendary record in striking sports: a near-perfect 40-1 professional record in Muay Thai and kickboxing from 2003 to 2017, including 11 world titles across multiple organizations (IFMA, WKC, Lion Fight, Phoenix FC, WMC). After a 12-year hiatus from MMA, she returned in 2017 and earned a UFC contract in 2018 via Dana White's Contender Series, making her promotional debut at age 34.

Antonina competed in the UFC women's flyweight division from 2018 to 2022, compiling a 5-4 record against the sport's elite. Her most impressive performances came late in her run: a technical submission over Lucie Pudilova that earned Fight of the Night honors, and a striking-based TKO of Ariane Lipski that netted Performance of the Night. She also defeated Ji Yeon Kim and Cortney Casey by decision. Losses to strikers like Katlyn Chookagian and grappler Andrea Lee (triangle armbar, UFC 262) exposed limitations against younger, more explosive opponents. Her fighting style reflected her Muay Thai roots: pressure-based striking with clinch work, kicks, and elbows, solid footwork, but limited takedown offense. In 2022, she and Valentina became the first sisters to fight on the same UFC card at UFC 255, both recording wins and cementing their place in combat sports history.

On March 26, 2025, Antonina announced her retirement from fighting to pursue her career as a licensed commercial pilot. She leaves behind a unique legacy: a world-class striker who competed at the highest level of MMA, carried a storied martial arts family lineage, and proved that elite athletes can excel in the sport well into their 40s. While she never challenged for UFC gold, her technical proficiency, longevity, and connection to one of the sport's greatest fighters ensure her place in women's MMA history.