Nicco Montano Targeting UFC 228 to Return, Valentina Shevchenko Not Convinced Yet
UFC women’s flyweight champion Nicco Montano is ready to defend her title.
On Thursday, Montano dropped a message via Instagram that her foot is finally healed and she’s ready to book her first defense against No. 1 contender Valentina Shevchenko in September at UFC 228.
“Alright, let’s get this show on the road! What you got on your girl, Sept 8th in Vegas, Valentina!” Montano wrote. “Now that I’m finally back to a healthy body I’m ready to go, it was only a matter of time. Share it, write it down, take a picture.”
Montano has been dealing with a lingering foot injury that was actually hurt ahead of her title fight win last December and has continued to plague her ever since. Montano also just recently had surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids that pushed her return to action back even further.
Now it appears Montano is ready to get back in action and she’s calling for the fight against Shevchenko at UFC 228, which is scheduled for Sept. 8 although no location has been confirmed for the card.
Sources close to Shevchenko say that the top ranked flyweight contender has been anxiously awaiting her showdown with Montano but she’ll believe this latest declaration about a date and location for the fight after receiving a signed bout agreement.
Shevchenko had previously agreed to meet Montano in July at the upcoming UFC on FOX card in Canada, but the flyweight champion was unable to take the fight due to her injuries and sickness.
As of now, nothing is official for the flyweight title fight but it definitely seems one step closer to reality now that Montano is healthy while Shevchenko has been champing at the bit to finally face her in the Octagon.
