Chael Sonnen Criticizes Valentina Shevchenko for Missing Opportunity to Call Out Manon Fiorot After UFC 306 Victory
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko reclaimed her title with a unanimous decision victory over Alexa Grasso in their trilogy bout at UFC 306. After a series of winless outings against Grasso, Shevchenko regained her position atop the flyweight division. However, UFC analyst and former fighter Chael Sonnen believes Shevchenko missed a crucial opportunity following her win.
During a recent episode of Good Guy/Bad Guy with Daniel Cormier, Chael Sonnen expressed his disappointment that Shevchenko did not mention Manon Fiorot, the presumed No. 1 contender, in her post-fight interview. Fiorot, who weighed in as the backup fighter for the Shevchenko vs. Grasso 3 bout, was not needed on fight night, but Sonnen feels Shevchenko should have acknowledged her next potential opponent.
Sonnen commented, “Fiorot was next in line, and after winning, Valentina could have used the moment to set up her next fight.” He further explained that Fiorot had gone through the extensive process of preparing for the event, including weight cuts and medical clearances, only to be overlooked.
Manon Fiorot has solidified her place as the top contender in the flyweight division after an impressive victory over Erin Blanchfield earlier this year. Fiorot’s positioning as the next likely challenger to Shevchenko’s title was clear, especially after she was designated as the backup fighter for UFC 306.
Sonnen argued that Shevchenko’s failure to mention Fiorot during her post-fight speech was a missed opportunity. A callout could have generated hype for what is shaping up to be a highly anticipated title defense, given Fiorot’s recent dominant performances.
With Shevchenko back on top as the UFC women’s flyweight champion, all eyes are on who she will face next. Manon Fiorot is widely regarded as the next in line, and Sonnen’s remarks only add fuel to the anticipation for this possible showdown.
Shevchenko’s win at UFC 306 marked her first victory since a split decision win over Taila Santos at UFC 275. As she looks to build momentum in her title reign, the matchup against Fiorot seems inevitable.
Valentina Shevchenko’s victory at UFC 306 was a triumphant return to the top of the flyweight division, but according to Chael Sonnen, it was also a missed opportunity. By failing to call out Manon Fiorot, Shevchenko overlooked a crucial moment to set the stage for her next title defense. With Fiorot waiting in the wings, the UFC flyweight division is poised for an exciting showdown between these two elite fighters.
