Did you expect Alexa Grasso to submit Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285? After all, ‘Bullet’ was flying high, one title defense away from a ruby-studded belt. But just as she reached for the final gem, Grasso snatched it away. It was a stunning upset, like lightning cracking through the calm.

At 31, Grasso became the first and only Mexican woman to wear UFC gold. She’s just the third woman in history to hold the flyweight title. But what shaped this champion? Where does she sharpen her tools? Who are the minds and muscles behind her meteoric rise? Let’s pull back the curtain.

Who is Alexa Grasso’s coach? Meet Francisco Grasso

You may not have heard of Francisco “Pancho” Grasso at the start of 2023, but by the end of it, his name echoed through MMA circles like a war drum. He didn’t chase cameras or headlines. In fact, Francisco rarely gave interviews, even in Spanish. But his work spoke volumes.

At the heart of Grasso’s transformation into a world champion stood her uncle, Francisco. The bond they share runs deeper than fighter and coach, it’s family, it’s legacy. When Alexa faced Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285, few believed she could dethrone one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Shevchenko had seven straight title defenses. She was untouchable. Until she wasn’t!

Guided by Francisco, Grasso submitted Shevchenko via a rear-naked choke in March 2023, shocking the world and making history for Mexico. And when they met again six months later, Alexa held her ground. Though it ended in a draw, it proved her win wasn’t luck—it was preparation.

Francisco’s work earned Grasso MMA Junkie’s “Female Fighter of the Year” and etched Lobo Gym into the sport’s elite map. Despite its size and modest roots in Guadalajara, Mexico, the gym proved that greatness doesn’t always come from glitzy training centers like ATT or AKA.

Does Diego Lopez coach Alexa Grasso?

Another name buzzing in Grasso’s orbit is Diego Lopes. Lopes made waves in 2023, both as a thrilling featherweight prospect and a key player in Grasso’s corner. He’s not just a training partner, he’s a tactician. And more recently, the 145er fought Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 314 for the vacant featherweight gold. 

Working closely with Francisco, Diego doubles as a Jiu-Jitsu coach for Grasso. The two go way back, likely crossing paths in the local MMA scene before the bright lights of the UFC.

It was Lopes’ influence that helped Grasso perfect the rear-naked choke that brought Shevchenko to her knees. During fight week, Lopes is often seen right beside the champ, ensuring every detail is dialed in.

His fingerprints are all over Grasso’s ground game. And judging by her performance at UFC 285, it’s clear she trusts him in the trenches.

Alex Grasso’s gym and teammates

So, where does all the magic happen? Alexa Grasso trains at Lobo Gym in Guadalajara, Mexico. It’s not flashy, but it’s fierce. There, she spars with some of the toughest names in Mexican MMA. Chief among them? Irene Aldana, UFC bantamweight contender and longtime teammate. 

Together, they push each other in brutal sparring sessions that mimic fight-night intensity.

Her support system includes rising names like Loopy Godinez and Alessandro Costa, all under the guidance of Pancho.

Grasso is known as one of the hardest workers in the division. Every session is a war, every rep a statement. And it’s that mindset, mixed with the precise planning of Francisco and Lopes, that’s kept her at the top. 

While her last outing at UFC 306 against Shevchenko ended with Grasso losing her belt, she’s ready to return to action at UFC 315. She’ll be taking on Natalia Silva, and the question now becomes, has Team Grasso built something even stronger this time? Let us know in the comments below!