UFC 231: Valentina Shevchenko says Joanna Jedrzejczyk is not her 'enemy'
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Valentina Shevchenko beat Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times during their Muay Thai days
Valentina Shevchenko has already beaten Joanna Jedrzejczyk three times, but says the pair "are not enemies" as they prepare to meet for the vacant flyweight title at UFC 231 in Canada.
Saturday's bout in Toronto comes a decade after Shevchenko took the last of those wins in the Muay Thai arena.
Max Holloway and Brian Ortega meet in a fight for the UFC featherweight title in the other co-main event.
"I'm feeling very good, very strong," Shevchenko told BBC Sport.
"I believe in my strengths - in my power, my speed and technique. We were training very hard and everything that I have I will show on Saturday night."
'We are not enemies, we have respect'
Kyrgyzstani-born Shevchenko, who fights out of Peru, will return to the octagon this weekend for the first time since February after having two bouts cancelled this year.
The 30-year-old meets Polish former strawweight champion Jedrzejczyk to renew their old rivalry at the Scotiabank Arena.
"We have our history in Muay Thai, we fought three times and now this Saturday we will start our history under MMA rules," said Shevchenko.
"Every experience brings something, from one point it is good because you know what to expect from this kind of opponent - what is her speed, her striking force.
"It helps, of course - every single fight brings you more confidence and you gain more experience."
Shevchenko returned to the flyweight division for her victory over Priscila Cachoeira in February, having previously fought at bantamweight and been kept apart from Jedrzejczyk, who makes the step up in weight.
"In UFC we were competing in different weight classes," added Shevechenko. "We had nothing to share between us, we had a good relationship.
"When we were in Muay Thai competitions we were never enemies, but we had our rivalry of pure sportsmanship.
"In the fight we are fighters, but after we have respect for each other."
'I get more nervous watching Antonina'
Shevchenko has won four and lost two of her six UFC bouts
Shevechenko's training camp took her from Texas to Las Vegas, up to Maine to get a feel of what the climate would be like in Canada, and then back to Vegas to watch sister Antonina take a unanimous decision over Ji Yeon Kim last weekend.
But the former eight-time Muay Thai world champion says she will feel more relaxed entering the octagon for her own fight on Saturday than sitting cage-side watching her older sibling.
"When you are acting by yourself you have the control of situation and you can manage it and know everything what will happen is in your arms," she said.
"When my sister fights, I have all this time to get nervous and watch from the outside, it's definitely more nervous feelings that I have."
And Shevchenko is confident of taking a fourth victory over Jedrzejczyk inside the distance.
"I will do everything to finish the fight earlier," she added.
"I will use everything - my technique, my speed, my power, my heart - to finish, and the main key to be successful is to be myself."
Holloway v Ortega - 'the fighter's fight'
Max Holloway will return to defend his UFC featherweight title against the undefeated number-one contender Brian Ortega.
The title fight was originally scheduled for UFC 226 in Las Vegas, but Holloway was pulled from the card after suffering "concussion-like symptoms".
Holloway told BBC Sport he has been impressed by his opponent's fighting style and described the UFC 231 main event as a "fighter's fight".
"People always try to do fantasy match-ups, like 'I wish that guy would fight this guy', well it's here, two young kids in their prime," he said.
Ortega has finished his past six opponents inside the distance.
London's Manuwa faces Santos
In the light-heavyweight division, Jimi Manuwa faces former middleweight contender Thiago Santos.
The two were set to face each other at UFC Fight Night 137 in Sao Paulo, but Manuwa pulled out with a hamstring tear.
The Londoner will be looking to end a two-fight losing streak when he takes on Santos, who won a 'Fight of the Night' bonus in his last outing.
Meanwhile, Gunnar Nelson - who has a professional record of 16-3-1 (7-3 in the UFC) - is back in action after almost 18 months out with injury to take on Alex 'Cowboy' Oliveira.
The Icelandic fighter, who is a long-time training partner of Irish superstar Conor McGregor, will be aiming to bounce back from a devastating knockout he suffered just 82 seconds into his last bout against Santiago Ponzinibbio in Glasgow last year.