The assumption heading into UFC 285 was that Grasso would wish to battle an ideal battle to defeat Shevchenko. Who knew that additionally utilized to the champion?
In a carefully contested battle, Shevchenko made one mistake that Grasso capitalized on by sinking in a rear-naked choke for a fourth-round submission win to say the ladies’s flyweight from the longstanding dominant champ.
The gorgeous final result makes Grasso the primary Mexico-born lady ever to win a UFC title (she was the primary to compete for one) as she turns into the third newly topped Mexican champion of 2023.
“Please pinch me, as a result of I really feel like I’m dreaming,” Grasso advised Joe Rogan throughout her post-fight octagon interview.
By three rounds, Grasso had an ethical victory of types as her boxing served as a wake-up name to Shevchenko early, which made the champ resort to takedowns and grappling that probably had her successful two of the primary three frames.
Then got here the second in Spherical 4. After they spent a lot of the spherical standing and exchanging jabs, Shevchenko threw a spinning again kick within the remaining minute that missed, which allowed Grasso to right away leap on her again and take the battle to the mat.
From there, Grasso labored laborious for the end till she bought it by sinking within the choke and forcing Shevchenko to faucet out with 26 seconds left within the fourth. Grasso indicated the end was no accident.
“I prepare for that factor,” stated Grasso, a former strawweight who’s 5-0 as a flyweight. “It was coaching. I prepare each single day that factor, as a result of I knew she did these spinning issues. … I educated so, so laborious like I by no means have earlier than in my life.”
