UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is confused with Valentina Shevchenkostatement about the UFC abandoning the Mexican Independence Day theme for UFC 306 in the Sphere.
Ahead of Tuesday’s season premiere of “The Ultimate Fighter 32” on ESPN and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET), Shevchenko told MMA Junkie that she understood the historic Sept. 14 card in Las Vegas would no longer be built around the Mexican holiday. It was a curious revelation given UFC CEO Dana White’s repeated statements surrounding the event, in which many expect to see Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12- 3-1 UFC) fight in their trilogy for the women’s flyweight title.
Grasso said she has not yet received a fight deal for the Shevchenko trilogy at UFC 306 and said she has not heard anything that leads her to believe anything has changed in the promotion’s plans.
“As far as I know, it will be Noche UFC again,” Grasso told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I saw some interviews with Dana White, and he’s saying it’s a love letter to Mexican Independence Day, to Mexican fighters, and he had a really, really good experience last year with Noche UFC. It would break records on ESPN, UFC Fight Pass. As I know, it will be 100% dedicated to Mexican Independence Day.”
After Grasso won the title from Shevchenko in a significant upset at UFC 285 in March 2023, the pair had their rematch at Noche UFC last September. The fight ended in a draw, with Grasso retaining his title. They went through all of the “TUF 32” filming as preparation for a trilogy fight, but Shevchenko had already shown some reluctance to do the third fight in a situation where Grasso would be stepping in as the cornerstone of another Mexican-themed event.
If for some reason Shevchenko refuses to fight on that date, Grasso said he will move on to the next candidate. She is very interested in fighting at UFC 306 and would do so regardless of whether Shevchenko is her opponent or not.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s Valentina or (Manon) Fiorot – anyone,” Grasso said. “I’m just preparing a lot, in all areas. I’m training every day. I’ve been in the fighting camp since I got 100% of my hand. I’m ready. I just want to fight that day. I would really love to fight in that meet and I will be ready, stronger than ever, for that meet.”
Grasso said he hopes it will be Shevchenko, because he wants to prove once and for all that he is superior in the confrontation, after criticism surrounding the result of the rematch. If not for judge Mike Bell’s 10-8 score for Grasso in the fifth round, Shevchenko would have taken home the decision and the belt.
“I would love to fight Valentina because it would be the first female trilogy in UFC history,” said Grasso. “We were both coaches too and we have a lot of history. She did a lot for the sport. Me too, as the first Mexican champion. We are both doing a lot of important things, so I think this would be the ideal fight, the perfect fight. I had submission. In the second, unfortunately it was a draw. But the third one is going to be like, OK, now we know who the winner is. So that’s why I would love to be a part of it. I would love to fight her and I’m super ready. Interest.”
Before returning to the Octagon against anyone, Grasso said she is excited for the world to see her coach on “TUF 32.” She said she enjoyed the reality show process and is looking forward to showing what kind of knowledge her team shared with the group of UFC hopefuls on her team.
“It was 100% me – it was really cool,” Grasso said. “I just want (fans) to experience ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ again because a lot of people are excited to watch it, especially here in Mexico. Almost more so in Mexico because it’s the first time that a Mexican team has managed to do this, 100% Mexican. So it’s really important for me, for my uncle, for my coaches and for my whole team to be part of this because it was really, really cool. We had guys from all over the world.”
