‘I Am Leaving My Gloves In This Post’ UFC Veteran Announces Retirement

The UFC made three fairly noteworthy roster cuts this week, and one of them was the release of Antonina Shevchenko, the sister of reigning UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

On Thursday, Antonina, 40, the oldest of the two Shevchenko sisters, announced her retirement from mixed martial arts on her Instagram page. Her message was lengthy and heartfelt, which displays why she was a fan favorite during her eight fights in the UFC.

“Dear friends,” Shevchenko wrote. “I didn’t have the opportunity to leave my gloves in the octagon by tradition, I didn’t think my fight in UFC in 2022 would be the last.
“I am leaving my gloves” in this post.”

Before coming to the UFC, like her sisters, she was an accomplished kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter.

“30 years in sport, black belt 3rd dan in Taekwondo,

11 World Champion titles in Muay Thai, Kickboxing and MMA.

More than 400 fights in amateurs and professionals, Asian and SouthAmerican Champion, UFC fighter.

This is how I finish my career in professional sport.

Of course, martial arts continue to be big part of my life but in different way 👊

It’s time to be focused on the next page – my career as a pilot.

My heart and my head are completely filled with airplanes and sky and it’s hard to express how happy I am that aviation has come into my life!”

At the end of Shevchenko’s post, she shouted out Valentina and invited fans to cheer her on as she continues her career in the UFC.

“And of course, thanks to the fans who cheered up and supported! We will cheer together for my sister now! @bulletvalentina.”

Shevchenko’s decision comes as no surprise as she hasn’t fought in nearly three years. Shevchenko also recently had a son and has taken up a career as a pilot, according to her Instagram page.

It appears Shevchenko and the promotion have parted on good terms, and Valentina–someone UFC CEO Dana White has always spoken glowingly about–is set to defend her title against Manon Fiorot on May 10 at UFC 315.

Antonina’s last fight was a unanimous decision win over Cortney Casey in July 2022. The victory snapped a two-fight losing streak and, as it turns out, was likely the best possible retirement bout for her.

While Antonina’s career never reached the heights of her younger sister’s, the former’s 10-4 career mark is above average. She owns wins over Ji Yeon Kim, Lucie Pudilova, Ariane Lipski da Silva and Casey.

Here is a breakdown of Shevchenko’s MMA career record.

Antonina Shevchenko’s Career MMA Record

• April 2002
  Opponent: Anara Bayanova
  Location: Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan
  Event: KFK: Cup of Kyrgyzstan
  Result: Win via TKO (punches), Round 2
• September 2003
  Opponent: Hyun Sung Kim
  Location: Seoul, South Korea
  Event: WXF: X-Impact World Championships 2003
  Result: Win via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
• September 2005
  Opponent: Hyun Sung Kim
  Location: Seoul, South Korea
  Event: WXF: X-Impact World Championships 2005
  Result: Win via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
• March 11, 2017
  Opponent: Anissa Haddaoui
  Location: London, England
  Event: Phoenix FC 3: UK vs. The World
  Result: Win via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
• December 22, 2017
  Opponent: Valérie Domergue
  Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
  Event: Phoenix FC 4: Dubai
  Result: Win via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
• June 26, 2018
  Opponent: Jaimelene Nievera
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: Dana White’s Contender Series 11
  Result: Win via TKO (knees), Round 2
• November 30, 2018
  Opponent: Ji Yeon Kim
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: The Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters Finale
  Result: Win via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
  Note: Catchweight bout at 130.5 lbs (Kim missed weight)
• April 20, 2019
  Opponent: Roxanne Modafferi
  Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia
  Event: UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Oleinik
  Result: Loss via Decision (split), Round 3
• August 3, 2019
  Opponent: Lucie Pudilová
  Location: Newark, New Jersey, USA
  Event: UFC on ESPN: Covington vs. Lawler
  Result: Win via Technical Submission (rear-naked choke), Round 2
  Bonus: Fight of the Night
• May 30, 2020
  Opponent: Katlyn Chookagian (now Cerminara)
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns
  Result: Loss via Decision (unanimous), Round 3
• November 21, 2020
  Opponent: Ariane Lipski
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: UFC 255
  Result: Win via TKO (punches), Round 2
  Bonus: Performance of the Night
• May 15, 2021
  Opponent: Andrea Lee
  Location: Houston, Texas, USA
  Event: UFC 262
  Result: Loss via Submission (triangle armbar), Round 2
• October 2, 2021
  Opponent: Casey O’Neill
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: UFC Fight Night: Santos vs. Walker
  Result: Loss via TKO (punches), Round 2
• July 9, 2022
  Opponent: Cortney Casey
  Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
  Event: UFC on ESPN: dos Anjos vs. Fiziev
  Result: Win via Decision (split), Round 3