On Sunday evening UFC women’s bantamweight Valentina ‘The Bullet’ Shevchenko was eating in a restaurant in Lima, Peru with her long time coach Pavel Fedotov when three armed robbers in motorcycle helmets entered the business. Two went to the cash register, while one began assaulting and robbing patrons. When he got near Fedotov, who was armed with a sidearm, the coach drew his handgun and fired.

Fedotov was struck with a bullet in the stomach and is recovering. Another patron at the restaurant was killed by gunfire from one of the robbers. One of the robbers was killed.

Now Shevchenko has released her first public statement, via Facebook.

Thank you so much dear friends for all the moral support in this very hard time that I and my family are going through!

On Sunday my coach master Pavel risked his life to defend me and the people that I was having dinner at the local restaurant.

I was at the back of the restaurant, and I’ve seen how the thieves went from table to table hitting the diners and snatching their belongings without anyone being able to help them. When they were getting closer towards our table, Pavel acted very determined and bravely.

If criminals would have found the gun he was carrying they would have thought that he was a cop, and very likely that they would have killed him with his own gun.

The Act of Pavel was not only in self-defense, but also the defense of my life and also of the people who were by my side!

Now Pavel is recovering thanks to God!

Shevchenko, 28, is one of the most decorated kickboxers to ever enter the UFC. In her first fight, taken on short notice, she beat Sarah Kaufman via Split Decision. In her second fight, she lost a Unanimous Decision to Amanda Nunes. Nunes went on to a title shot vs. Miesha Tate. Shevchenko fights Holly Holm in the main event of UFC on FOX 20 on July 23 in Chicago. 

Valentina and her sister Antonina moved to Peru in 2008, along with coach Fedotov. As noted he is recovering from the gunshot wounds.