Alexa Grasso shocks the world, submits Valentina Shevchenko

UFC 285: Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko, profitable the UFC  ladies’s flyweight championship.

Alexa Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko by way of submission (rear-naked choke), Spherical 2 – 4:34 at UFC 285 on Saturday, March 4, 2023, reside from the T-Cellular Area in Las Vegas, NV.

“Are you able to punch me as a result of I really feel like I am dreaming. I’ve dreamt of this second so many instances… I skilled it each single day as a result of I knew she did spinning issues. Yeah, I skilled it as a result of I knew she hit arduous…I skilled it so arduous,” said Grasso within the octagon after the victory.

“That is type of like what occurs in blended martial arts… Congratulations to Alexa. If not for the spinning kick, the end result can be totally different… I need my title again… I positively need a direct rematch,” stated Shevchenko.

The ladies touched gloves to get the primary spherical began. Shevchenko landed a spinning again fist after which a leg kick. The 2 traded leg kicks. Grasso landed a proper hand as the 2 traded in the midst of the Octagon. Grasso landed one other proper hand however Shevchenko answered with a straight proper jab. Grasso tagged Shevchenko with a two-punch mixture that briefly surprised Shevchenko.

Grasso took Shevchenko down twice within the closing seconds of the spherical.

Shevchenko opened the second spherical with a takedown. The motion stalled with Shevchenko caught in Grasso’s guard. Shevchenko ultimately moved into aspect management. Grasso was ultimately in a position to make use of her ft to kick off the wall and get again to her ft. Shevchenko landed a few jabs and made Grasso miss repeatedly. Shevchenko landed one other takedown within the ultimate minute of the spherical, sustaining the highest place till the horn.

Shevchenko opened the third spherical with a jab however Grasso answered proper again with a pointy counter. Grasso got here in and landed a mix however Shevchenko replied with a robust trio of punches. Shevchenko appeared to stun Grasso however missed with a head kick as Grasso was in a position to transfer out of hazard. Shevchenko landed a takedown with slightly below three minutes remaining. Grasso was in a position to defend in full guard.

The gang booed as referee Jason Herzog made the questionable resolution to face the fighters up. Shevchenko scored one other takedown and took the again however Grasso was in a position to scramble and tried a choke, operating out of time because the horn ended the spherical.

The 2 ladies opened the fourth spherical by buying and selling punches. Grasso stuffed Shevchenko’s takedown try. Grasso determined to go for a takedown however Shevchenko was simply in a position to rise up in opposition to the fence and cease the try. The 2 ladies engaged in a clinch till Shevchenko landed a knee to the physique to interrupt free. The ladies continued to commerce punches. Shevchenko tried a spinning again kick however Grasso countered and took Shevchenko’s again and went for a submission. Grasso went between a neck crank and a rear-naked choke. Shevchenko’s face continued to show a deeper shade of pink. Unable to flee, Shevchenko was compelled to faucet out.

After beginning her UFC profession 3-3 after strawweight, Grasso determined to maneuver as much as flyweight. The choice proved to be fruitful, as Grasso gained 4 straight fights to earn a title battle. Along with her stunning upset victory on Saturday, Grasso turns into the third UFC ladies’s flyweight champion.

Shevchenko entered UFC 285 on a nine-fight profitable streak and 7 straight title defenses. The seven title defenses have been probably the most consecutive title defenses of any lady in UFC historical past. Very similar to when Amanda Nunes misplaced her bantamweight title to Julianna Pena, count on Shevchenko to get a rematch with Grasso.