I didn’t lose, but that makes me even sadder. Shevchenko failed to return the championship belt
September 17, 2023, 08:13 Moscow time Audio version: Your browser does not support the audio element.
It is very possible that everything was decided by Valentina’s mistake.
On the night of September 17 in Las Vegas at the T-Mobile Arena, the UFC Fight Night 227 tournament was held, dedicated to Mexican Independence Day. The main event of the night was the fight between current flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.
This was the second fight between the girls. In March of this year, at UFC 285, Grasso caused a major upset by unexpectedly defeating Shevchenko in the fourth round. The Mexican took advantage of Valentina’s mistake and instantly found herself behind her, then performed a choke from behind her. Alexa had never reached such heights before, but for Shevchenko, the loss was her first since 2017. Bullet was on a nine-fight winning streak, eight of which were in title fights. Additionally, Shevchenko holds the record for the number of belt defenses in the women’s weight classes.
Grasso later also became number one in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings. This was made possible after dominant champion Amanda Nunes retired. Then Alexa approached the rematch with Shevchenko as the best UFC fighter among women. Valentina was very determined to return her belt, she promised to dismantle her opponent and prove that the defeat six months ago was nothing more than an accident.
Main events of the UFC Fight Night 227 tournament
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The fight began with cautious attempts by the opponents to find distance. Shevchenko put more emphasis on her attacks, but often found herself blocked. Grasso moved more, used the steering wheel and tried to counterattack each attack from the former champion. But at the end of the five minutes, the Mexican was in danger. Valentina scored a takedown and twice threatened a submission, but Grasso escaped, although she most likely forfeited the segment.
The champion began the second round more actively and began not only to respond in the exchanges, but also to attack on her own. Shevchenko joined the exchanges and almost paid for it, because Alexa met her opponent with a powerful right hand and sent her to the ground, then almost finished her off in the clinch. Bullet tried his luck in the fight again, but was not entirely successful. Furthermore, as she stood up, she received a strong kick to the jaw, and on the ground the champion confidently worked with her elbows and did not allow anyone to get close to her. During the break, Shevchenko was advised to continue fighting, which she did. Another takedown that Grasso couldn’t stop, and Valentina tried once again to attempt a choke, which Grasso held. Both girls showed perseverance. Alexa fended off all submission attempts and Shevchenko was constantly looking for an opportunity to end the fight early.
With the start of the so-called championship rounds, Grasso took a cautious position, waiting for the right moment and not letting her opponent get close to her. Shevchenko still entered the fight, but for the first time she did so unsuccessfully and received several blows to the knee, and her legality raised doubts, as Valentina put her hand on the ground. True, in response, Bullet opened a cut for Alexa, but Grasso lost the five-minute period due to more active work, including on the ground.
In the final round, the girls did not force things and worked in a disciplined manner from a distance. Shevchenko was faster and more accurate in her hands, but the champion made more mistakes and missed counterattacks. A minute and a half before the end, Valentina made a mistake and turned her back on Grasso. Alexa immediately started throwing a bunch of punches to the head and at the same time tried to choke her from behind her. The situation was very reminiscent of the one Bullet found herself in in the first fight, but this time the former champion did not let herself be finished.
Both Grasso and Shevchenko were confident of victory after five rounds and both stood with their hands up awaiting the verdict. The judges, in turn, also did not decide who will be the winner of the fight. One referee gave the fight to Grasso, another to Shevchenko and the third had a draw on his cards.
Alexa is therefore still the UFC champion, but for Valentina this result was, in fact, equivalent to a defeat. Perhaps a mistake at the end of the fifth round cost Shevchenko the belt.
