By Murdo Todd
At UFC 315, Manon Fiorot (France) will become the first IMMAF alum to compete for a UFC title when she takes on Valentina Shevchenko for the Women’s Flyweight belt.
A former IMMAF World Champion, Fiorot claimed gold at the 2017 IMMAF World Championships, defeating Karolina Hulkko and Chamia Chabbi in the final two fights of her amateur career.
In 2018, Fiorot transitioned to professional MMA, making her debut against fellow IMMAF alum Leah McCourt (Northern Ireland). Although she fell short in a closely contested split-decision loss, Fiorot rebounded in dominant fashion. She went on an impressive winning streak, capturing titles in both Eagle Fighting Championship and UAE Warriors before earning a call-up to the UFC.
Fiorot made her UFC debut in January 2021, immediately making a statement with a second-round finish over Victoria Leonardo. This marked the beginning of an undefeated seven-fight run in the promotion. Since then, the Frenchwoman has secured victories over elite competition, including Rose Namajunas, Erin Blanchfield, and Mayra Bueno Silva – a streak that has rightfully earned her a shot at the UFC flyweight title.
Fiorot may be the first IMMAF alum to compete for UFC gold, but she certainly won’t be the last. As top IMMAF talent continues to rise through the professional ranks, more former competitors will soon be in title contention within the UFC.
However, Fiorot faces a formidable challenge in Shevchenko, widely regarded as one of the greatest female fighters of all time. A two-time UFC Flyweight Champion, Shevchenko first claimed the belt in 2018 by defeating Joanna Jędrzejczyk at UFC 231. The 36-year-old also boasts victories over Alexa Grasso, Jessica Andrade, and Jennifer Maia.
While Shevchenko remains one of the most accomplished female fighters in MMA history, Fiorot enters the bout as a legitimate threat. Should Fiorot rise to the occasion once again, she will etch her name in history as just the fourth-ever UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion.
The pair will face off in the co-main event of UFC 315 on May 10 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The event will be headlined by a welterweight title fight, as Belal Muhammad looks to make his first defense against Australia’s Jack Della Maddalena.
