In a night filled with electrifying moments, the clash between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC delivered an unforgettable showdown that may just require a trilogy. The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas bore witness to a split draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) between these fierce competitors in the main event.
This bout was an immediate rematch, with Grasso seeking to defend her UFC women’s flyweight title after defeating Shevchenko six months ago. The fight itself was a rollercoaster, with both fighters showcasing their remarkable skills and resilience.
The back-and-forth battle saw Grasso dropping Shevchenko in the second round, while Shevchenko retaliated by nearly finishing Grasso with a mounted guillotine choke in the third. The final moments of the fight featured Grasso on Shevchenko’s back, landing punches as the crowd erupted in anticipation.
Despite the nail-biting draw, Grasso retained her UFC women’s flyweight title. Valentina Shevchenko, known for her dominant reign, acknowledged the draw but expressed that it felt more like a non-victory.
Grasso’s post-fight sentiments reflected her satisfaction with the performance and the opportunity to headline such a significant event on Mexican Independence Day. She believed she won the fight three rounds to two, leaving her content with her display in the octagon.
However, the future remains uncertain, as Grasso remained noncommittal about a rematch during her post-fight interview. She emphasized that the decision would ultimately rest with the UFC. “I wouldn’t like to stop the division,” Grasso stated. “But whatever the UFC says, I’m in.”
Valentina Shevchenko, who felt she should have been the winner, revealed that she broke her thumb in the first round. She expressed her unwillingness to commit to a rematch until she fully recovers from the injury, emphasizing her desire to perform at 100%.
The judges’ decision was a topic of debate, with Mike Bell scoring Grasso’s fifth round as a 10-8, leading to the split draw. Junichiro Kamijo scored in favor of Grasso, while Sal D’Amato favored Shevchenko. The controversy surrounding the decision left both fighters with mixed emotions.
In terms of statistics, Grasso outlanded Shevchenko in significant strikes (64-57) and total strikes (219-158). However, Shevchenko managed four out of six takedown attempts and held control for 8 minutes and 37 seconds.
Alexa Grasso, on a six-fight unbeaten streak since moving up to flyweight, made history by becoming the first Mexican-born female fighter to win a UFC championship. Valentina Shevchenko, despite her title reign coming to an end, still boasts an impressive legacy with the most consecutive title defenses by any woman in UFC history.
As the dust settles on this epic encounter, the MMA world eagerly anticipates the next chapter in the saga of Grasso vs. Shevchenko, a rivalry that might just deserve a trilogy.
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