Valentina Shevchenko isn’t just famous for her technical striking and long reign as the UFC women’s flyweight champion — she’s also known for being one of the most multilingual fighters in the sport. Fans often notice how easily she switches languages during interviews, press conferences, or social media posts. So the question is: How many languages can Valentina Shevchenko actually speak?
The short answer: She speaks at least four languages fluently — Russian, English, Spanish, and Kyrgyz — and she understands a few others at a conversational level.
Her language ability comes from her childhood in Kyrgyzstan, her global fighting career, and the years she spent living and training in South America.
Let’s break down each language she speaks, how she learned them, and why it matters for her UFC career and international popularity.
1. Russian – Her Native Language
Russian is Valentina Shevchenko’s strongest and most natural language. Born in Kyrgyzstan during the former Soviet era, Russian became her primary language from childhood. She uses it:
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In interviews with Eastern European media
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During training with her sister Antonina
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When communicating with fans from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Eastern Europe
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On social media posts that target her Central Asian audience
Because she grew up speaking Russian daily, this is the language where she sounds most fluid, expressive, and emotionally connected. Most long interviews or documentary-style content featuring her rely on Russian subtitles or translations.
For many MMA fans, hearing Valentina speak Russian adds to her intimidating aura — she sounds precise, calm, and extremely sharp, which matches her fighting style perfectly.
2. English – Fluent and Confident
Valentina speaks very fluent English, and this is the language she uses the most in her UFC career. Every UFC press conference, face-off, media day, and post-fight interview is conducted in English.
Her English is:
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Clear
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Calm
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Easy to understand
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Free from heavy accent compared to many international fighters
She learned English during her early fighting career as she started traveling across Europe and the United States for Muay Thai competitions. Later, as she signed with the UFC, she refined her English even more.
Her fluency helps her:
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Connect with American fans
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Promote fights
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Handle media smoothly
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Build her reputation as a smart, professional champion
Her disciplined, structured personality appears even stronger when she communicates in English. It’s also one of the reasons she is seen as a global ambassador for women’s MMA.
3. Spanish – Near-Native Fluency After Living in Peru
A surprising fact about Valentina is how well she speaks Spanish. Many fans don’t realize she lived in Peru for several years and even holds a Peruvian passport. Her relationship with Peru began when she trained and coached Muay Thai fighters in the country.
Because of this, she speaks Spanish at almost a native level. She uses Spanish:
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In Peruvian TV interviews
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When speaking with her longtime coach Pavel Fedotov
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On social media posts directed at Latin American fans
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During UFC Latin America promotions
Her Spanish is smooth, confident, and full of local expressions, which made her extremely popular across South America. Peru considers her an honorary national icon, and many fans proudly refer to her as “La Bala” (The Bullet) in Spanish.
Her ability to speak Spanish fluently also boosts her marketability. The Latin American audience is huge in combat sports, and Valentina’s ability to connect in their language strengthens her fanbase significantly.
4. Kyrgyz – Cultural and Everyday Use
Valentina also speaks Kyrgyz, the official language of Kyrgyzstan. She grew up in a Kyrgyz-speaking environment, and while it may not be as strong as her Russian or Spanish, she can speak and understand it well.
She uses Kyrgyz:
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When speaking with local fans during her visits
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In cultural interviews
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During ceremonies or national events
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When representing Kyrgyzstan internationally
Her Kyrgyz ability strengthens her connection with her home country. Many Kyrgyz fans are extremely proud of her because she maintained her cultural roots even after becoming an international star.
Does She Speak Any Other Languages?
She has basic conversational ability in a few more languages, mostly picked up during her global travels. Some sources say she understands:
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Thai (from her Muay Thai career in Thailand)
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Portuguese (from training with Brazilian fighters)
However, she is not known to use these languages publicly at a fluent level.
Why Her Multilingual Skills Matter in the UFC
Language ability is not just a fun fact for fighters — it actually affects their career in several ways.
1. Bigger Fanbase
Because Valentina speaks four languages, she connects naturally with:
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Eastern Europe
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Central Asia
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The United States
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Latin America
Few fighters have this level of global reach.
2. Better Fight Promotion
English and Spanish are the two most important promotional languages for UFC marketing. Valentina speaks both fluently, which helps her cut interviews, hype fights, and increase viewership.
3. Stronger Brand Identity
Her multilingual personality makes her stand out as a world-traveled, educated fighter. This adds to her public image as a disciplined martial artist who sees combat sports as a lifelong craft.
Final Answer: How Many Languages Does She Speak?
Valentina Shevchenko speaks at least four languages fluently:
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Russian
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English
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Spanish
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Kyrgyz
And she has limited knowledge of a couple more. This makes her one of the most multilingual fighters in the UFC, and it plays a huge role in her worldwide popularity.
