PHOTO | Bantamweight title challenger Valentina Shevchenko sizzles in Phuket photoshoot

This July 8, on the main card of the blockbuster UFC 213, Kyrgyzstan’s Valentina Shevchenko will attempt to wrest the UFC women’s bantamweight title from the waist of dynamic Brazilian champion Amanda Nunes. The bout will be a rematch of an early 2016 fight, which Nunes won with a close split decision.

In advance of this anticipated women’s bantamweight title fight, Shevchenko has been honing her tools at Tiger Muay Thai in postcard-worthy Phuket, Thailand. While the purpose of her visit to Thailand has been improving her skills for her fight with Nunes, she’s also found some time for a sizzling photoshoot in her tropical surroundings.

See the latest photo from Shevchenko’s Phuket photoshoot below:

#Thailand #PhuketIsland
Foto @marchyn
Style @mila_makhetova pic.twitter.com/l8JEHZAD6V

— Valentina Shevchenko (@BulletValentina) May 6, 2017

Shevchenko will enter her rematch with Nunes on an impressive two-fight win-streak. The first of these wins saw her score a solid, decision win over former UFC women’s bantamweight champion Holly Holm. The second and most recent, which occurred in January, saw her submit grappling specialist Julianna Peña with a beautiful, second-round armbar. Her most recent fight before this win-streak was her competitive loss to Nunes.

Nunes, meanwhile, will enter the fight on a similarly impressive tear. After defeating Shevchenko to earn a title shot, she claimed the title with a destructive, first-round submission of former champ Miesha Tate. In her next and most recent fight, she took out former champ and MMA megastar Ronda Rousey in less than a minute, sealing the deal with a volley of first-round strikes.

Other features of the UFC 213 bill include a men’s bantamweight title fight between champ Cody Garbrandt and challenger TJ Dillashaw, a welterweight gunfight between fan favorites Robbie Lawler and Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, and a heavyweight rematch between decorated legends Fabricio Werdum and Alistair Overeem.

Do you think Valentina Shevchenko can claim bantamweight gold this July?

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/9/2017.