Valentina Shevchenko: An Unprecedented Eminence Era

Valentina Shevchenko: An Unprecedented Eminence Era

By James Lee

The greatest asset to obtain in licensed combat is controlling the decontrolling of emotional controls.

Being that the sport’s popularity is solely tension-based, the uncontrolled environment makes the unforeseen likely.

A competitor that can break the mould of the unexpected acquire greatness. The execution of that is an extreme rarity. Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko is bulleting towards that however.

Devaluing physical and mental fragmentation in a combat arena is onerous. Once a veracious account of self expression is truly formed, success becomes omnipresent.

As millions have walked to a combat arena, very few have wholly adapted to the caged environment positively.

The Kyrgyzstan-native shines in the chaos. Any notion of doubt is combated by her poised nature. If controlled, a lack of fear is a feared asset for a fighter. As is a pre-existing aura that has vitalised her scarce greatness, where dominance and the act of beating contenders is little but a formality.

The new era of unprecedented eminence presented itself on the sport last June when Shevchenko leant against the back of the cage, her eyes solely focused on the unconscious Jessica Eye, whom she had just dismantled in under six minutes.

The thud of her left high kick at UFC 238 was heard around the world, but the perpetrator was the quietest in Chicago’s United Center. Assassin-like as Joe Rogan described her. An assassin with years of experience, fighting in multiple different disciplines across the globe.

As President Dana White entered the cage to congratulate the defending champion, Shevchenko gave him a bow. A bow signalling another defeat. Another ease to victory. Like a mobster to a boss. Just a job; little attached. No follow-up strike necessary. Just a clean demolition and merciful skip away.

Her inaugural title victory over former strawweight champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk began her championship triumph that has been extended by two title defences since, with her latest avenging her first professional career defeat. A controversial doctor stoppage saw Liz Carmouche raise her hand in 2010, but the consequent rematch last August cleared up the unfulfilling initial situation.

This Saturday’s opponent is Katlyn Chookagian; a flyweight mainstay since its creation, who has earnestly deserved her shot at gold. There is very little chance however she leaves Houston with one of the biggest upsets in combat history.

There is always something eerie about the most dangerous flyweight in the world nodding to the sound of calm, traditional Eastern European folk-dance music whilst entering the world’s most dangerous combat arena. A calm and ostensibly unassured presence, but one that is never deceived as weakness.

She is almost an anomaly in the UFC today, being a champion so dominant that her inside-the-cage antics is all that amounts attention.

With patience and correct marketing, her global status will progress. A highly-skilled, and dominant champion with roots in three continents is abnormally positive.

She is bestriding a path to becoming a modern day representative of Bruce Lee. An unassuming figure with a lifetime of work in martial arts; accompanied with the modest nature of an icon. A pleasant tone that cannot come across as anything but likeable, much like her fighting ability cannot be questioned either.

Ultimately, it is difficult to see an end to a period of dominance that is likely to break the record number of consecutive title defences.

Eventually a shocking loss of her flyweight title may come, but until then, the fighting world should begin to appreciate an unprecedented period of greatness they are set to witness well beyond this weekend.