2025 FOTY Contender Valentina Shevchenko Urged to Work Up to UFC Headlining Spot

Now aged 37, Valentina Shevchenko showed no signs of slowing down this year, picking up two ballot wins and against big opponents. One bold MMA individual who is renowned for his caustic criticism of Shevchenko was Chael Sonnen. ‘Bad Guy’ Sonnen received some diss back from ‘Bullet’ earlier this year.

In a recent video on his official YT channel, Sonnen was elated to see the UFC flyweight champion named Female Fighter of the Year (2025). He even said Shevchenko deserves her dues as a long-stay, notwithstanding her gender. However, he also spiced it up saying he can’t remember what he’d be honoring her for, with Shevchenko being stuck in the co-main plot for a while.

If I were her, I would sit my management team down, and let them know it’s the main event or else – or else…I would not listen to their 20 excuses as to why they can’t get any further; [right now] There is no excuse to have as many world title fights, there is no excuse for Fighter of the Year, there is no excuse for the greatest female in history to be anything less than a main event.

Chael Sonnen on his Official YT Channel

Due to a total of 11 UFC titles changing guard in 2025, the pool isn’t that big or obvious. Alex Pereira regaining his gold is one prime attraction; UFC 155-pound king Ilia Topuria has been named by few notables as Fighter of The Year. One other attraction was Valentina Shevchenko defeating Zhang Weili in their coveted super-fight at UFC 322: Della Maddalena vs. Makhachev PPV co-mains

In 2025, the Women’s Flyweight beat the top competitor in her division and the winner of the next weight class, AKA Weili. A UFC PPV has previously featured Valentina Shevchenko as the main event, when she challenged Amanda Nunes for the bantamweight title in a rematch at UFC 215. But a major chunk of her title fights were then second down the line.

Consequently, the fighting drive for a headliner spot aside, Sonnen has critiqued Shevchenko before on another matter.

Chael Sonnen once said Valentina Shevchenko’s lack of callouts rubbed him the wrong way

The apparent issues that Chael Sonnen has with her as a UFC champion are not just about the recent UFC 315 pay-per-view event. After the (UFC 306) Noche UFC PPV fallout, Sonnen considered that, for a person who can ‘speak 7 languages’, if Valentina doesn’t have any callouts to make, she should retire!

During her UFC 306 PPV Post-fight media op, Bullet slammed ESPN coverage for stepping on her and highlighting more of Alexa Grasso in media snippets, which made it look like she sat dud. In their title rematch before that, Judge Mike Bell turned in a controversial 10-8 for the then Mexican-titleholder. She also felt she had the field now as champ and callouts should be directed her way instead.

The American was also critical of the way she conducted this post-fight media op at the Sphere, as well as frequently dismissing talk of ‘Bullet’ having immense draw. But once again, Chael Sonnen was more overtly critical that Shevchenko didn’t acknowledge Manon Fiorot as her next challenge.

I feel like it’s clear that Fiorot is next. She was almost there that night. And after the fight, Valentina went in a different direction. She wanted to thank Hunter Campbell and Dana White…I felt for Fiorot: To get licensed, go through all the medicals, go through the training camp, the weight cut, and there’s no opportunity, which means there’s not a very big check to split up with your team. At a minimum, at a human level, there should have been a callout.

Chael Sonnen on ESPN MMA’s Good Guy / Bad Guy (@ESPNMMA)

The former title challengers’ two KO wins of late had bolstered her standing, and Manon Fiorot was high up in the Women’s Pound-for-Pound Rankings 2025. At UFC 315 PPV vs. Valentina Shevchenko, the Frenchwoman was, however, unsuccessful in her bid to secure a victory based on the judges’ scorecards.

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