Alexa Grasso on victory against Valentina Shevchenko: ‘It wasn’t a mistake’
Alexa Grasso made history last March at UFC 285. When she defeated Valentina Shevchenko and won the flyweight championship, Grasso became the first woman from Mexico to capture UFC gold.
Before the fight, Shevchenko was assumed to be the better striker and grappler, and victory celebrations were on ice for her tenth straight victory. Yet that was not how the fight unfolded. Grasso gave Shevchenko constant problems throughout the first three rounds, landing a clean left hand in the first round. By the third, Shevchenko appeared to have mastered Grasso’s timing, but she effectively lost the title when she attempted a spinning back kick.
That kick was a move Grasso had been expecting, preparing with her team in camp with the perfect counter attack. When the opportunity finally did arise, Grasso was flawless in her technique. She took control of Shevchenko’s back, then locked the back of her hand onto Shevchenko’s neck.
“It was an amazing game plan,” says Grasso (16-3). “We knew she could be beat. I had to finish the fight, and that is what I did.”
Next up for Grasso is a rematch against Shevchenko. It takes place at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as the headline bout for a UFC Fight Night on September 16, which is also the date of Mexican Independence Day. Grasso is extraordinarily proud to defend the belt on such a significant holiday.
“Mexican Independence Day means to fight for your dreams,” says Grasso. “My goal is to inspire, especially young women. I want to leave a mark and show that, with enough discipline, you can reach your dreams. I’m fighting for my dreams in the main event.”
Defeating Shevchenko (23-4) a second straight time will be a difficult task. But now that Grasso has tasted life as champion, she does not want to let it slip away.
Every morning, with her body still sore and aching from the previous day’s training session, Grasso awakes next to her inspiration: the UFC flyweight title belt.
“It’s right next to my bed,” says Grasso. “It’s the first thing I see every morning. That keeps me motivated. Even when I’m super sore and tired, I look over and see the belt and think, ‘Let’s go, baby.’”
Grasso is well aware that Shevchenko will be highly motivated to regain her throne atop the division. But Grasso is also confident, and she sees the September 16 bout as a chance to definitively illustrate that point.
“I’m excited to see her game plan,” says Grasso. “I was doing my best on my feet, so she decided to bring it to the ground. I also have a good arsenal on the ground.
“Our fight, it wasn’t a mistake. I’m going to prove that when we fight again.”
Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.
