Dominant UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will look for the fifth defence of her world title on April 24 against former strawweight titleholder Jessica Andrade, according to an initial report by ESPN later confirmed by the UFC.
Shevchenko has laid waste to several challengers in the women’s 125-pound frame, last defeating Jennifer Maia by unanimous decision last November in Las Vegas — marking the fifth win in succession in world title fights since she claimed the vacant strap in a bout with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 231 in December 2018.
Her challenger this, Andrade, comes into the fight of a knockout win in his flyweight debut against Katlyn Chookagian last October. However, prior to that the Brazilian suffered two straight defeats to Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang — to whom she surrendered her strawweight championship.
The world title fight joins a handful of announced fights for the card, including the rescheduled date between former middleweight champion Chris Weidman and Uriah Hall. Light heavyweights Anthony Smith and Jimmy Crute are also expected to compete at the event.
Further bout for UFC 261, which is expected to take place in the UFC’s Apex facility in New York, are expected to be announced in the coming days and weeks.
