MMA Star Valentina Shevchenko in Two-Piece Workout Gear is "The Best Female Fighter"

Valentina Shevchenko is showing off her powerful physique in her two-piece workout gear. In a recent Instagram post, the MMA champion flaunted her incredibly fit body while training, dressed in a black sports bra and shorts emblazoned with her name. She also posed post-fight. "There's no discussion, Valentina is the best female fighter on the planet 100% 🇰🇬🐐❤️," commented one fan. Known for her rigorous discipline and intense workout routines, Shevchenko takes her preparation for fights to a whole new level. How does the UFC star get ready to step into the octagon? Here’s everything you need to know about the methods Shevchenko uses to stay on top of her game.

1. She Doesn’t Drink Water During Training

In a recent Instagram post, Shevchenko showed off her beautifully toned physique wearing a black sports bra and tight black workout shorts with her name on her upper thigh. The MMA star keeps in shape in various ways, including not drinking during training. “When you are drinking water, you are focusing on that you’re tired,” she said in an ESPN interview. This is a way to kind of develop your champion mindset.” She drinks water before or after training but never during.

2. She Has a Balanced Diet

In an interview with Women’s Health, Shevchenko shared she doesn’t hold back from eating anything, but the key is moderation. "I can eat everything," she says. "But I think the main idea is balance." According to the World Health Organization, a healthy, balanced diet combines different foods, such as protein, fruits and vegetables, legumes, and “staples like cereal.” The site states a well-balanced diet “protects you against many chronic noncommunicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Eating a variety of foods and consuming less salt, sugars and saturated and industrially-produced trans-fats, are essential for healthy diet.”

3. She Trains Nonstop

Shevchenko trains two to three hours a day to prepare for a fight. She told Women’s Health, "It's hard work and nonstop.” However, she takes a day off to rest when she has Saturday fights and does light training the morning of. "It's like a 40-minute training, just to stretch and sweat," she says.

4. Recovery is Important

With such a rigorous workout schedule, recovery is important and something Shevchenko takes seriously. When she has downtime, she spends a few hours at a lake in Vegas she enjoys. "Just being in nature, recharging enough to get back," she told Women’s Health. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can."

5. Sports is her Religion

Shevchenko entered the world of fighting at a young age. She was only 6 or 7 when she competed for the first time, and her first professional fight was at 12. When she joined the UFC, she was a 17-time Muay Thai World Champion. "Fighters, they have to know how to box, have to know how to kick, how to wrestle, how to grapple, everything," she told Women’s Health. "They have to do it, not just okay, they have to do it in perfection." She compares her passion for the sport to religion. "For me, martial arts, it's kind of [the] same as religion, because you have to believe in what you are doing and your temple is your dream," she says.

Valentina Shevchenko, the MMA Fighter, is the UFC 275 winner. And she celebrated by breaking out her bathing suit. In a recent photo on her Instagram story, Shevchenko sat by the pool. She wore a pink bikini, looking amazing. How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Valentina Shevchenko stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Recovers

Valentina Shevchenko/Instagram

Being a UFC fighter, Shevchenko has to be in shape. Her schedule is extremely intense, and it can take a toll on her body. She tells Women’s Health that she makes sure to save her energy and makes time to recover. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can."

2. She Goes Outside

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Shevchenko makes time for herself. She revealed what her go-to way to recover was to Women’s Health. “Just being in nature,” she said. “Recharging enough to get back."

3. She Eats A Balanced Diet

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Shevchenko, being an athlete, has to watch what she eats. However, she tells Women’s Health that she believes in balance, and isn’t super restrictive with food. "I can eat everything," she says. "But I think the main idea is balance."

4. She Does Partner Weight Work

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Shevchenko does use weights when she works out, however, it’s not in the traditional way. She tells Women’s Health that she does partner work with weights. "You do the same as working with weights, but something that actually will work good for you in a fight," she says. "It's hard work and nonstop.”

5. She Does Neck Exercises

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Shevchenko keeps her whole body in shape. Including her neck. She posted this video on Instagram of herself doing neck exercises. She captioned the video, “Some more neck exercises in combination with bridges and sprawls.” "To prevent or reduce stiffness and pain, try simple neck stretches throughout the day," says the Mayo Clinic. "For the first stretch, lower your chin to your chest while keeping your shoulders nice and straight. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the back of your neck. Relax and slowly lift your chin to the starting position. Next, rotate your head to one side while keeping your shoulders nice and straight. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the side of your neck and your shoulder. Relax and slowly return to the starting position. Turn your head to the other side and repeat the stretch. Next, tilt your head so that you're moving your ear toward your shoulder. Don't bring your shoulder up to your ear. Hold the stretch for 15 to 30 seconds. You'll feel tension in the side of your neck. Relax and slowly return to the starting position. Tilt your head to the other side and repeat the stretch."

Valentina Shevchenko, the professional fighter, enjoyed her weekend. And she just posted a new photo on Instagram as proof. In it, Shevchenko walked in the water by a canyon. She wore a blue bathing suit, showing off the product of her hard work. Shevchenko captioned the post, “Weekend 🌸 vibes 😄 #LakeMead #Nevada #MojaveDesert.” How does she stay so fit? Read on to see 5 ways Valentina Shevchenko stays in shape and the photos that prove they work—and to get beach-ready yourself, don't miss these essential 30 Best-Ever Celebrity Bathing Suit Photos!

1. She Does Partner Workouts

Shevchenko broke down her typical fitness routine and diet to Women’s Health. She surprisingly revealed that she doesn’t do a lot of weight and strength workouts. Instead, she favors partner type workouts, as she says that they help her in the ring. "You do the same as working with weights, but something that actually will work good for you in a fight," she says.

2. She Believes In A Balanced Diet

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Shevchenko talked about her typical diet in her Women’s Health interview. She says that while she tries to eat healthy, she doesn’t believe in going on a restrictive diet. Shevchenko believes in eating a balanced diet, and isn’t afraid to give into any cravings she might have. "I can eat everything," she says. "But I think the main idea is balance."

3. She Prioritizes Recovery

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While her training sessions and staying in shape are important to Shevchenko, she also believes in recovery. She tells Women’s Health that she has rest days on Fridays, and does things like physical therapy and walking to recover. "My trainings are super intensive and super difficult," she says. "That's why you try to save your energy as much as you can."

4. She Does Intense Workouts Five Days A Week

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Shevchencko naturally trains really hard to prepare for fights. She broke down her typical training schedule to Women’s Health. Shevchencko works out for two to three hours, four times a week. “It's hard work and nonstop," she says. She also will do a quick training session before she goes into a fight. “It’s like a 40 minute training, to stretch and sweat,” she says.

5. She Does Neck Workouts

Hans Gutknecht/Getty Images

Shevchenko works out every part of her body. Even her neck. She posted this video on her Instagram of herself doing different neck exercises, like bridges and sprawls, in the ring. She revealed in the caption that these exercises help her stay in shape, and help with her fights. Shevchenko captioned the video, “Some more neck exercises.”