Antonina Shevchenko, a veteran of eight octagon appearances, will not fight as a mother in the UFC. The sister of UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko announced Thursday her retirement from the sport.
Shevchenko, who announced the birth of her son in September 2024, last entered the UFC cage in July 2022, when she won a split decision over Cortney Casey.
“I didn’t have the opportunity to leave my gloves in the octagon by tradition, I didn’t think my fight in UFC in 2022 would be the last. ‘I am leaving my gloves’ in this post,” Shevchenko wrote. “30 years in sport, black belt 3rd dan in Taekwondo, 11 world champion titles in muay Thai, kickboxing and MMA. More than 400 fights in amateurs and professionals, Asian and South American champion, UFC fighter. This is how I finish my career in professional sport.”
The 40-year-old athlete entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018 and scored finishes over Lucie Pudilova and Ariane da Silva during her run, losing only to Roxanne Modafferi, Katlyn Cerminara, Andrea Lee and Casey O’Neill.
“Of course, martial arts continue to be big part of my life but in different way,” she continued. “It’s time to be focused on the next page – my career as a pilot. My heart and my head are completely fulled with airplanes and sky and it’s hard to express how happy I am that aviation has come into my life!
“A professional fighter lives a full exciting life, filled with hard work, awards, travels, difficulties, victory celebrations. And it is hard to find another path you love that will be same intense and fulness, fulled with action, constant learning, hard work and celebration of achievements. Aviation is this treasure for me!”
With a record of 10-4 in MMA, Shevchenko now hopes her son follows her footsteps into the world of combat sports.
“Now it’s my turn to do all the hard work for my son, to raise him a decent person,” Shevchenko wrote. “Of course, I will do everything possible for make him become a professional fighter and a pilot! Thanks to UFC, Dana White, Mick Maynard for the opportunity to be a part of the history! For some of the most difficult fights in my career. I had to do my very best and work harder I ever did. And also for the performance fight bonuses, thanks to them I was able to complete my pilot trainings, purchase my lovely Skyhawk, fly it across the country, get all pilot licenses and flight hours.
“Thanks to all my friends! And of course, thanks to the fans who cheered up and supported! We will cheer together for my sister now!”