Valentina Shevchenko: UFC’s Longest Active Career

💥⚔️ Valentina Shevchenko: The Longest Active Career in the UFC

Valentina Shevchenko’s career isn’t just long — it’s legendary. Among the 700+ fighters currently signed to the UFC, only one athlete has been competing professionally longer than her: Rani Yahya, who debuted in 2002. Valentina? She’s been doing this since 2003.

🔹 A Career That Outlasted Generations

Shevchenko made her MMA debut a month before legends like Alexander Emelianenko and Lyoto Machida. She entered the game two years before Dominick Cruz and Frankie Edgar, and a full three years before Cain Velasquez and Junior dos Santos.

And while people often point to Alistair Overeem’s incredible run across four different decades (the ’90s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s), Valentina’s professional career is actually 10 months longer than his.

🔹 Built Different from the Start

She debuted just one month after turning 15. By the time she was 17, her pro record stood at 7-0 — with finishes like Ezekiel chokes, armbars, rear-naked chokes, and head kick knockouts. All while simultaneously building a championship career in Muay Thai and kickboxing. That’s not just talent — that’s absurd longevity and versatility.

🔹 Still Fighting at the Top in 2025

Twenty years and two months after going 7-0, Shevchenko is still competing at the highest level, fighting for a UFC title at age 37.

For comparison: TJ Dillashaw started his career at 24 and was already retired at 36, broken down by injuries. Valentina started 10 years earlier and is still performing without major injuries.

🔹 Most Consecutive Years with a Title Fight

She holds the record for most consecutive years with a UFC title fight among active fighters — nine years straight: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025.

Not even the biggest stars can match that:

• Jon Jones missed title fights in 2021 and 2022.
• Max Holloway missed in 2021 and 2023.
• Volkanovski didn’t fight for gold in 2017 or 2018.
• Adesanya and Usman also had gaps.

🔹 Oldest Female Title Fight Win in UFC History

When Shevchenko defeated Alexa Grasso, she became the oldest woman in UFC history to win a title bout — at 36 years and 6 months old.

Valentina’s legacy isn’t just about wins or belts. It’s about endurance, discipline, and evolution. From a teenage prodigy to one of the most respected fighters of all time — her career is a masterclass in longevity.