Veteran UFC fighter Antonina Shevchenko, with eight appearances in the octagon, has declared her retirement from mixed martial arts. The sister of current UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko shared the news of her retirement on Thursday.
Shevchenko, who welcomed her son into the world in September 2024, last competed in the UFC in July 2022. In that fight, she secured a victory by split decision against Cortney Casey.
“I didn’t get to leave my gloves in the octagon in a traditional retirement ceremony, and I didn’t realize my 2022 UFC fight would be my last. So, I am symbolically ‘leaving my gloves’ in this post,” Shevchenko stated. “My journey in sport spans 30 years, achieving a 3rd dan black belt in Taekwondo, 11 world titles across Muay Thai, kickboxing, and MMA, and over 400 amateur and professional fights. I`ve been an Asian and South American champion, and a UFC fighter. This marks the end of my professional sports career.”
The 40-year-old Shevchenko entered the UFC through Dana White’s Contender Series in 2018. During her UFC tenure, she achieved victories with finishes against Lucie Pudilova and Ariane da Silva. Her losses were against Roxanne Modafferi, Katlyn Chookagian, Andrea Lee, and Casey O’Neill.
“Of course, martial arts will remain a significant part of my life, but in a different capacity,” she continued. “It’s time to focus on the next chapter – my career as a pilot. My heart and mind are completely filled with airplanes and the sky, and I can`t express how thrilled I am that aviation has become my passion!”
“Being a professional fighter is a life full of excitement, demanding work, accolades, travel, challenges, and victory celebrations. It’s difficult to find another path that offers the same intensity and fulfillment, packed with action, continuous learning, hard work, and the joy of achievement. Aviation is that treasure for me!”
With a 10-4 MMA record, Shevchenko now hopes her son will follow in her footsteps into the world of combat sports.
“Now, it’s my turn to dedicate myself to my son, to raise him to be a good person,” Shevchenko wrote. “Naturally, I will do everything I can to help him become a professional fighter and a pilot! Thank you to the UFC, Dana White, and Mick Maynard for the opportunity to be part of UFC history! For some of the toughest fights of my career, where I had to push myself harder than ever before. And also, thank you for the performance fight bonuses, which enabled me to complete my pilot training, purchase my cherished Skyhawk, fly it across the country, and obtain all my pilot licenses and flight hours.”
“Thank you to all my friends! And of course, thank you to the fans for your cheers and support! We will now be cheering together for my sister!”
