Joe Asks Valentina Shevchenko About Rematching Amanda Nunes

Episode Summary

Main Topics Discussed

• Valentina Shevchenko's perspective on her past fights, specifically against Amanda Nunes.
• The role of size and weight in MMA, particularly when facing larger opponents.
• Strategies for a potential future rematch against Amanda Nunes, focusing on weight management and training approach.
• Comparison of different fighters' strategies for moving up weight classes (e.g., Israel Adesanya, Jon Jones).
• Valentina's natural weight class and future considerations.

Key Insights & Memorable Moments

Valentina Shevchenko offered a detailed and analytical perspective on fighting, particularly regarding her encounters with Amanda Nunes. She explained that she doesn't consider any single fight "most difficult" in isolation, but rather views the combination of training camp, fight week, and the fight itself as determining the overall challenge. For her, Amanda Nunes's primary advantage was identified as size and weight, not necessarily her fighting style.

A significant insight was Shevchenko's firm belief that gaining weight, even with extended preparation time, would be detrimental to her performance. She argued that suddenly carrying more weight would make her slower and reduce her stamina throughout the fight, as she wouldn't be naturally accustomed to it. This approach contrasts with some fighters like Jon Jones, but aligns with others like Israel Adesanya, who chose not to bulk up when moving to a higher weight class.

She emphasized that every fighter must know their own body and what works best for them, acknowledging that different approaches can be valid for different athletes. She concluded that 125 lbs is her natural weight class, where she feels optimally performant.

Notable Quotes or Revelations

• "I never was considered like a difficulty of the fight only for the fight for this five rounds or less... for me difficulty of the fight it's combination of training camp your approach to the fight fight week and the fight itself."
• On Amanda Nunes's difficulty: "What is difficult about Amanda's style? Your sizes. Size. It's not her style, it's not her style, it's just she's big and heavy."
• Regarding gaining weight for a potential rematch: "I don't believe it's gonna help. I believe it's gonna be worse for the fighter because if in your whole life you was like a certain body type... then suddenly for last two three months you start to carry way more so what's gonna happen? You're gonna be slower, you're not gonna have same resistance for the whole fight because you have to carry more weight on top of you."
• "Someone naturally bigger every time will have this advantage being bigger no matter how more weight you're gonna put on top you are still the same just with the extra weight on."
• On personalized fighting strategies: "Israel he knows exactly the same about his body type. John Jones he knows exactly about himself. So this is everyone's approach and I think everyone should do what they think it's gonna help them to win."
• On her optimal weight class: "It's my natural weight class, it's like what I was competing all the time."

Overall Themes

The overarching themes of this discussion revolve around individualized fighter strategy and deep self-knowledge regarding one's body and performance. Valentina Shevchenko champions an analytical and disciplined approach, prioritizing her natural athletic ability, technique, and optimal body composition over attempts to artificially gain bulk for specific opponents. The conversation also highlights the significant and often debated impact of weight and size in mixed martial arts, particularly in highly anticipated cross-division or super fights. Ultimately, it underscores the enduring interest and compelling nature of a potential third fight between two of women's MMA's greatest, Valentina Shevchenko and Amanda Nunes.