In the Clinch: Grasso Excited to Rematch Shevchenko, UFC Fight Night 227 – There’s been a lot of upsets in the UFC as of late.
Last week, new middleweight champion Sean Strickland joined the recent upset champions club of Leon Edwards, Alexa Grasso, and Sean O’Malley when he beat Israel Adesanya at UFC 293.
Grasso (16-3-0), 30, and her surprise submission victory of the No. 1 Shevchenko (23-4-0), 35, is still considered one of the biggest upsets in UFC history.
Can she do it again?
Grasso is confident she can. She knew she would have to rematch the former champion and seems to be well prepared to defend the crown. Now that Shevchenko knows she will have to be careful on the ground, both fighters will have to adjust for this rematch. And as the only Mexican champion remaining in the UFC, she does not want to join the recent defeat of Brandon Moreno and title challenger Irene Aldana.
Shevchenko took the loss like a champion but could not resist stating that she feels she is still the best. She will have to attack Grasso as the challenger this time. That could create some openings for Grasso.
Former Houston Rocket coach Rudy T said it best, “Never underestimate the heart of a champion.” And so, it would be foolish to dismiss Valentina simply because she is 35 or because she was submitted. We all saw what she did after she narrowly lost to Amanda Nunes at UFC 215.
A case can be made for either fighter. Health could be one of the critical factors that make the difference on Saturday.
I think we can expect another chess match with two individuals determined to prove they are the best. Mixed martial arts at its finest.
The T-Mobile Arena awaits the next chapter of women’s flyweight history.
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Alexa Grasso
Valentina Shevchenko
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