As fight day approaches, the lead-up to the rematch between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso intensifies. The T-Mobile Arena will host the UFC women’s flyweight title fight during Noche UFC this weekend. Grasso, the reigning champion, surprised the world when she defeated Shevchenko, making her the first woman to do so since Amanda Nunes.

Grasso secured a fourth-round submission victory against Shevchenko, ending the long reign of the former champion. During the recent pre-fight press conference, she ensured that Valentina had not forgotten the reasons for her defeat.

Alexa Grasso had this to say about Valentina Shevchenko’s credentials

At UFC 285, Alexa Grasso silenced all her doubters by dethroning Valentina Shevchenko. ‘Bullet’ had been on a 9-fight win streak. During which, she also established the record for the most title defenses among any UFC women’s champion. The general consensus in the MMA community was that Shevchenko would dominate Grasso. However, the Mexican fighter defied everyone’s expectations by seizing the opportunity presented by Shevchenko’s mistakes and securing a submission.

During the recent press conference, Shevchenko reminded everyone of her impressive credentials. Proudly holding 17 world Muay Thai championship victories and successfully defending the title seven times.

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Grasso, quick to respond, emphasized that despite Shevchenko’s Muay Thai prowess, she had chosen to engage in grappling during their previous encounter, highlighting her unwavering belief in her own abilities. According to Grasso, “Being a Muay Thai champion, I thought you wanted to be on striking with me, but you decided to go to the ground.”

Mexican-Born UFC Champion Alexa Grasso Sounds Off on Naysayers Claiming “You Will Never Achieve It if You Are Training in Mexico”

This comment underscored Grasso’s unwavering belief in her abilities. Despite Shevchenko being the more decorated fighter of the two, Grasso maintains her belief that she has what it takes to win the rematch. And with her last victory against Shevchenko, she’s proven she has the skills to do so.

‘Bullet’ isn’t as invincible as fans once thought

In all her previous fights, Shevchenko enjoyed a significant speed advantage over her opponents. This became evident in her knockout of Jessica Eye, where her set-ups and distance control allowed her to strike without receiving clean hits in return.

However, Grasso was the first fighter to match, possibly even surpass, Valentina’s speed. Her strong boxing fundamentals allowed her to exploit Shevchenko’s absence of a mid-range game. When Shevchenko over-extended with a kick attempt, Grasso swiftly closed the distance and executed the submission.

Grasso’s victory served as a reminder to Shevchenko that accolades alone do not guarantee success in the heat of battle. Grasso’s skills and fight IQ enabled her to bridge the experience gap and secure the title. As the eagerly awaited rematch draws near, fans are split on whether Shevchenko can reclaim her title or if it’s time for Alexa Grasso to start her reign. Who do you think has the upper hand in the upcoming rematch? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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