UFC 322 Co-Main Event: Can Shevchenko and Weili Beat the Odds in Title Showdown?

Valentina Shevchenko faces an intriguing challenge when she defends her UFC flyweight championship against former strawweight titleholder Zhang Weili at UFC 322. The co-main event initially presented Weili as the betting favorite, but shifting lines suggest this contest may be closer than expected—a situation where either fighter could defy the odds.

Initial Odds and Line Shifts: A Tightening Matchup

When BetOnline first released the betting lines for this UFC 322 co-main event, Weili entered as the -140 favorite, positioning Shevchenko at +120 as the underdog. However, the marketplace has reconsidered. The current line now reflects a more balanced contest, with Shevchenko sitting at -105 and Weili at -115—essentially a pick 'em scenario. This narrowing gap underscores how the betting community views the dynamics of this title fight.

The Flyweight Champion: Shevchenko’s Dominance Speaks for Itself

Valentina Shevchenko (25-4-1) has established herself as one of the UFC’s most dominant forces since joining the promotion in December 2015. Her initial stint at bantamweight produced mixed results, but her transition to 125 pounds marked a turning point in her career trajectory.

After moving to flyweight, Shevchenko embarked on one of the most remarkable winning streaks in women’s MMA history. She defeated Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant flyweight title and subsequently defended her crown seven consecutive times. A loss to Alexa Grasso temporarily halted her reign, yet Shevchenko reclaimed the belt through a trilogy victory at UFC 306, reasserting her championship pedigree.

In her most recent outing at UFC 315, Shevchenko successfully defended her current title reign with a decisive unanimous decision victory over Manon Fiorot. Her statistical dominance in the flyweight division remains unmatched: 11 wins, a 9-fight winning streak, 10 title-fight victories, and a defensive striking rate of just 1.86 strikes absorbed per minute. These numbers illustrate why many believe she can beat the odds against any challenger, including an accomplished former champion moving up in weight.

The Former Champion Challenges: Weili’s Quest for Dual-Division Glory

Zhang Weili (26-3), now 36 years old, is pursuing an ambitious goal—securing championship gold in a second weight class. Her strawweight title credentials are substantial: she captured the 115-pound belt in August 2019 and held it through two separate championship reigns.

Weili’s first strawweight reign concluded when Rose Namajunas scored a spectacular head-kick knockout 78 seconds into their UFC 261 matchup. She fell short in the rematch before rebounding with a knockout over Jedrzejczyk. Weili then reclaimed the strawweight title in November 2022 with a submission victory over Carla Esparza, defending it three times before vacating the belt.

Her transition to flyweight represents a significant undertaking, yet Weili’s recent form—a decision win over Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in February 2025—demonstrates she remains a formidable competitor capable of beating the odds despite moving up in competition level and weight class.

The Broader Card Context

UFC 322’s main event features another intriguing champion-versus-champion-turned-challenger scenario, with recently crowned welterweight titleholder Jack Della Maddalena facing former lightweight kingpin Islam Makhachev, who is also ascending in weight. This thematic parallel underscores a trend in modern UFC matchmaking: established fighters seeking redemption or new legacies at different weight classes.