UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has signed a new, multi-fight deal with the UFC, according to her manager Roger Allen.
Shevchenko (16-3) is scheduled to defend her 125-pound title against Jessica Eye at UFC 238 on June 8 in Chicago. She has fought exclusively in the UFC since 2015. Exact terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“This is a very lucrative deal for Valentina’s career and sets in motion her desire to be one of the most active champions,” Allen told ESPN in a statement. “We are excited wit her rise and our relationship with the UFC.
“The timing of this deal is very good, and we now have structure to have synergies with the recent development of the enhanced partnership of ESPN+ and PPV.”
The last line of Allen’s statement is in reference to the newly announced deal between ESPN and UFC, which made ESPN+ the exclusive distributor of UFC pay-per-view events in the U.S., as well as exclusive rights holder through 2025.
Shevchenko, of Kyrgyzstan, is 5-2 in the UFC. Both of her losses came at bantamweight, against dual-weight champion Amanda Nunes. She is the No. 3 pound-for-pound female fighter in the world, according to ESPN.