Valentina Shevchenko

Every experience brings something. From one point, it is good because you know what to expect from this kind of opponent - what is her speed, her striking force.

I already knew that this is what I'm gonna do during my life because martial arts, for me, it's not just my job. It's not just the way to get some money. Of course it's important.

I will try to do everything to finish the fight earlier as I can. No more, no more.

We already have our history with Joanna in Muay Thai and we can start our history in MMA.

Strawweight, they have one power. In flyweight, they have totally different power. You can be the best one in the strawweight, but here, it's a totally different field. This is not someone who has less power than you. This is someone who has more power than you. This is where I feel this is my field; this is my territory.

I can do back fists, spinning kicks. I have more options, and I can show the better striking.

Of course my base and my favorite thing is striking, and I will do a lot of striking because I love this game.

If you can see all my life, I've been training since a very young age. I've been competing in so many different competitions, so many different opponents, and so many different countries.

I believe in my strengths - in my power, my speed and technique.

I can't imagine my life without martial arts. I would be a different person.

In the fight, we are fighters, but after, we have respect for each other.

My mom just brought me to the school of my coach. And I've trained with him my whole life. I started there, and it was totally natural for me. When I got to be 12 years old, I understood: it wasn't a job for me. It was my life.

I don't think getting punched in the face is too fun. I keep going because this is what I am. Every time I fight, this is why we live. We have to feel this. That's how we become stronger. That's how we become champions.

I know my strengths. I know what I'm good at.

When I grew up, the idea that I had to be the best at everything I do was put in my head by my mother. This is just how I am. I'm not just here participating.

I go to bed dreaming, thinking that I want to be the best in the octagon and be a champion.

My coach has taught me since 5 years old, and he stresses not just the quality of training but the mental part. Technique and the mental game have to mesh, balance.

To have an opportunity to fight for the title, you have to prove you deserve it against top opponents.

I put a lot of meaning into what will go on my skin and be there for all of my years of life.

I'm not going to the past, and it's not tied to me, every time moving forward, and this is more important - to move forward every time.

My fighting style is mixed martial arts. It's not just stand up, or ground and pound, it's everything together. I have 26 years of a fighting career, and it always works together.

I'm doing what I love to do. Martial arts is my everything. It's my life, my philosophy, how I think, who I am.

I've been in martial arts for so many years, so to hold the belt of UFC and be on top of the biggest organization, it will be represented in this belt.

Fighters can say whatever, but what they are feeling inside, it's totally different.

I'm a mixed martial arts fighter. But at the end of the day, all experience will help. And experience I got from that fight, it will help me to win this fight.