Wang Cong has reignited her rivalry with Valentina Shevchenko — and this time, it’s happening outside the cage.
The Chinese contender took to social media ahead of UFC Macau, claiming the reigning flyweight champion pulled out of a planned joint fan Q&A appearance to avoid sharing the stage with her. The two were expected to appear together during fight week festivities, but according to Cong, those plans changed at the last minute.
“Valentina and I were originally scheduled to appear together at the UFC Macau fan Q&A,” Cong wrote on Instagram. “However, she submitted a request to UFC to opt out of the joint appearance, refusing to share the stage with me.”
“The Joker” didn’t stop there, launching into a sharp critique of Shevchenko’s character and fighting style while referencing their past encounter.
“As my defeated opponent, it’s clear she’s afraid I’ll expose the truth behind her lies,” Cong added. “She’s a sore loser with no class—nothing more than a compulsive liar who can’t handle defeat.”
“Oh, and one more thing. I call her ‘Box Office Poison,’ because boring fights are exactly what she’s good at.”
The tension between the two dates back to 2015, when Cong defeated “Bullet” by decision in a kickboxing bout — a result that still stands as one of the few losses on the champion’s striking résumé. While Shevchenko’s team has long disputed the outcome, Cong has continued to lean on that victory as leverage in her pursuit of a UFC showdown.
Currently riding a three-fight win streak, “The Joker” is working her way back into contention after a setback in 2024. She’s now scheduled to face Tracy Cortez at UFC 329 in July, a fight that could bring her closer to a long-awaited clash with Shevchenko.
