Dana White and the UFC delivered exactly what they promised at UFC 322. In the promotion’s 12th visit to New York since last year’s UFC 309, a packed Madison Square Garden erupted as a blockbuster card lit up ‘The Big Apple’ just ahead of winter. While Jack Della Maddalena and Islam Makhachev prepared for the main event, the co-main, the women’s flyweight title fight, stole the spotlight. Reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko defended her belt against Zhang Weili over five rounds of pure dominance.

Both fighters displayed remarkable skill, trading strikes and grappling in a thrilling back-and-forth. In the end, ‘Bullet’ retained her title for the second time, with her precision striking, honed from years as a kickboxer and Muay Thai star, proving decisive. This latest win solidifies the Peruvian’s position as the female pound-for-pound number one in the UFC. The journey, however, remains far from over, and fans are already speculating about what comes next for Valentina ‘Bullet’ Shevchenko.

What’s in store for Valentina Shevchenko following UFC 322?

Tonight, Valentina Shevchenko cemented her place in the debate over the “greatest female fighter of all time.” Her fight against Zhang Weili carried extra tension, as the former strawweight champion moved up to challenge the reigning flyweight titleholder, putting everything on the line. This accomplishment places Shevchenko squarely in the sights of the division’s top contenders, including Manon Fiorot, Natalia Silva, and Erin Blanchfield, fighters who dominate the flyweight landscape and represent the most immediate threats to her reign.

Among the top contenders, Natalia Silva, currently ranked No. 2, stands out as the most promising challenger. Silva remains unbeaten in her UFC career, boasting a seven-fight winning streak highlighted by her latest victory over Alexa Grasso at UFC 315. Erin Blanchfield is also a strong title contender, having defeated Rose Namajunas and, most recently, Tracy Cortez on the UFC 322 undercard.

Manon Fiorot previously fought for the title in March but fell short against Valentina Shevchenko. She returned last month with a win over Jasmine Jasudavicius and may need one more fight before earning another title shot, though in the UFC, anything can happen. UFC women’s bantamweight champion Kayla Harrison has also set her sights on ‘Bullet.’ Speaking to Jorge Masvidal, Harrison said, “In my perfect world, either Valentina beats Weili and that fight happens at the White House… USA vs. Russia fight.”

With Valentina Shevchenko successfully retaining her belt at UFC 322, the stage is now set for a potential showdown with Harrison at next year’s “One and Done” UFC event at the White House, tentatively scheduled for President Donald Trump’s birthday on June 14. Harrison shared her thoughts on the possible matchup ahead of UFC 322, keeping fans excited for what could be a historic fight.

Shevchenko speaks on being the “only one” ready for Kayla Harrison at UFC White House

With the UFC 322 co-main event behind us, conversations have already turned to the future and plans for next year’s UFC White House event, set to take place on Donald Trump’s birthday. Even with three more UFC events left this year, fans and fighters are already looking ahead to the White House card. Meanwhile, Valentina Shevchenko had spent weeks responding to questions about Kayla Harrison’s callout. The flyweight champion finally broke her silence, directly addressing the challenge while speaking with MMA Junkie.

‘Bullet’, 37, first pointed out how Kayla Harrison had also called out fighters like Amanda Nunes and Ronda Rousey, despite them being retired for years. She then discussed her potential matchup against Harrison.

“I heard she brought some other names as well,” Valentina  Shevchenko told MMA Junkie. “She called Amanda, right? She called Ronda (Rousey), and from all three names, it’s only one name that’s still an active fighter. The other ones are like eight years retired, four years retired. Kayla is a very good fighter, very good athlete, very physically strong, and definitely it’s going to be a great fight – but I’m not looking past my fight.”

Meanwhile, the UFC has scheduled the White House event for June 14, which gives Valentina Shevchenko ample time to prepare and defend her belt. Consequently, if she decides to move up to 135 lbs, a clash with Kayla Harrison promises to be truly intriguing. So, how do you see that matchup playing out? Share your thoughts below.