Upcoming UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko had planned her schedule around champ Amanda Nunes’ availability.

After some uncertainty about Nunes’ time frame, Shevchenko said both sides are working on a date for her title shot.

I think soon we’ll have something, but my manager and their managers are speaking to the UFC,” she told MMAjunkie Radio today. “Soon we’ll have a date.”

Earlier this month, Shevchenko (14-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC) claimed Nunes (14-4 MMA, 7-1 UFC) turned down a fight in April – likely at UFC 210 in Buffalo, N.Y. – after Nunes said she wanted to fight at UFC 212 on June 3, a date she couldn’t make.

“When she declined the fight in April, she was (telling) the UFC she’d be out for some time, and she won’t be back until July,” Shevchenko said. “Of course, I was planning my schedule to be busy before July.

“But then she changed her mind, and now we are speaking about the date.”

That’s good news for the No. 1 conteder, who cut the title line with a win over Julianna Pena at UFC on FOX 23. Shevchenko and Nunes faced off in the octagon after her win, exchanging some pointed words.

Nunes, No. 1 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA women’s bantamweight rankings, is the only opponent to beat No. 2 Shevchenko in her octagon career, having won a unanimous decision at UFC 196. Shevchenko said she’s been watching the champ, but there hasn’t been much to glean from recent performances.

“I think for every person, each experience brings changes,” she said. “It’s difficult to say, because all her fights end very fast. We couldn’t see a lot.

“But she is a very dangerous opponent. That’s why I have to train three times more, and I’ll do it. But it doesn’t matter. This is what I want. I want this title, and I’ll do everything to win it.”

Shevchenko, a former kickboxer, submitted “TUF” winner Pena, an opponent noted for her grappling ability. To much of the world, the finish was a surprise given her primary skill set in kickboxing. To her, it was just the culmination of a lot of hard work over the years in all disciplines.

When she steps into the cage against Nunes for the second time, Shevchenko said her evolution will be even more apparent.

“It will be not only that moment, it will be everything since that fight,” she said. “Since that fight, I spent a lot of time training and changing my game plans and my rhythm for MMA fight.

“In each fight I spent after the fight with Amanda (Nunes), Holly (Holm) and Julianna (Pena), it made me more stronger. That’s why it will be totally different, and it will be a good fight. I will put all my heart into it to win it.”

For more on the UFC’s upcoming schedule, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

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