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UFC 306 (aka "Noche UFC") takes place Saturday, so it's time to break down the top fights, plus make DFS picks and predictions for the key matchups on the card.
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No-shows title defense
Grasso dropped the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision (45-50, 45-50, 45-50) at UFC 306 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
Grasso went off as a -125 favorite in what will likely end up being the third and final fight between these two, and she wasn't the least bit competitive. Alexa constantly got off second in the striking exchanges between the two women, but that was the least of her problems. By far her largest issue was the fact she allowed Shevchenko to land 8-of-12 takedown attempts for 16:04 worth of control time. Grasso threw up a few token submissions here and there, but a Round 4 guillotine attempt was really the only one of any substance. Once that failed, she had less than zero chance of winning a decision. Alexa has clearly improved over the years, but her reign as a UFC champion always felt tenuous. Known for her striking, Grasso doesn't have a knockout victory in nearly a decade. Her margin for error against high-level competition is exceedingly slim, as we saw this evening.
Grasso went off as a -125 favorite in what will likely end up being the third and final fight between these two, and she wasn't the least bit competitive. Alexa constantly got off second in the striking exchanges between the two women, but that was the least of her problems. By far her largest issue was the fact she allowed Shevchenko to land 8-of-12 takedown attempts for 16:04 worth of control time. Grasso threw up a few token submissions here and there, but a Round 4 guillotine attempt was really the only one of any substance. Once that failed, she had less than zero chance of winning a decision. Alexa has clearly improved over the years, but her reign as a UFC champion always felt tenuous. Known for her striking, Grasso doesn't have a knockout victory in nearly a decade. Her margin for error against high-level competition is exceedingly slim, as we saw this evening.
Ready for Shevchenko rematch
Grasso (hand) will face Valentina Shevchenko in a flyweight bout in UFC Noche at Sphere in Las Vegas on Sep. 14.
ANALYSIS
Grasso vs Shevchenko will be the co-main event of a thrilling event, as the headliner of UFC Noche will be the epic fight between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight world title. Grasso will defend her flyweight title against Shevchenko in a trilogy after their most recent bout in September last year finished with a split draw. Grasso became the world champion in the flyweight class when defeating Shevchenko in March 2023, and she's not looking to give up the belt so quickly.
Grasso vs Shevchenko will be the co-main event of a thrilling event, as the headliner of UFC Noche will be the epic fight between Sean O'Malley and Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight world title. Grasso will defend her flyweight title against Shevchenko in a trilogy after their most recent bout in September last year finished with a split draw. Grasso became the world champion in the flyweight class when defeating Shevchenko in March 2023, and she's not looking to give up the belt so quickly.
Gets surgery for fractured hand
Grasso revealed Tuesday that she underwent surgery to address a fractured right hand, an injury she suffered while fighting Valentina Shevchenko to a split draw at Noche UFC on Sept. 16, Danny Segura of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
The flyweight champion hasn't announced a timeline for her return to the Octagon, but posted on her Instagram account that she would be "super ready" for a trilogy fight with Shevchenko. A potential third Grasso-Shevchenko bout is expected to take place in 2024, once Grasso has had the chance to heal up from surgery.
The flyweight champion hasn't announced a timeline for her return to the Octagon, but posted on her Instagram account that she would be "super ready" for a trilogy fight with Shevchenko. A potential third Grasso-Shevchenko bout is expected to take place in 2024, once Grasso has had the chance to heal up from surgery.
Retains belt after draw
Grasso retained her UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on Saturday after fighting Valentina Shevchenko to a split draw (47-48, 48-47, 47-47) at Noche UFC in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
What a weird, extremely entertaining fight. Regardless of who you felt deserved to win, Grasso proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that her win over Shevchenko this past March wasn't a fluke. Alexa again struggled with the wrestling game of Valentina at times, allowing four takedowns, but she landed the crisper, harder strikes most of the fight, including a Round 2 knock down. It turns out Grasso was set to lose her title until judge Mike Bell inexplicably gave her a 10-8 score in Round 5. That's indefensible, but Alexa very well may have deserved to win regardless, as she was the better fighter in Rounds 2, 4 and 5. The gap between these two women is minuscule, and this quirky result almost certainly means the two will link up for a third bout at some point down the line. There's really no other option.
What a weird, extremely entertaining fight. Regardless of who you felt deserved to win, Grasso proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that her win over Shevchenko this past March wasn't a fluke. Alexa again struggled with the wrestling game of Valentina at times, allowing four takedowns, but she landed the crisper, harder strikes most of the fight, including a Round 2 knock down. It turns out Grasso was set to lose her title until judge Mike Bell inexplicably gave her a 10-8 score in Round 5. That's indefensible, but Alexa very well may have deserved to win regardless, as she was the better fighter in Rounds 2, 4 and 5. The gap between these two women is minuscule, and this quirky result almost certainly means the two will link up for a third bout at some point down the line. There's really no other option.
Slated to fight Shevchenko
Grasso will take on Valentina Shevchenko in a flyweight bout at a UFC event on Sept. 16, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports Thursday.
ANALYSIS
Grasso is slated for a rematch with Shevchenko, who she took out with a rear-naked choke in Round 4 of a fight back in March to become the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. Grasso hasn't lost a fight since 2019, and she'll look to keep that streak alive in a rematch of what was a thrilling fight.
Grasso is slated for a rematch with Shevchenko, who she took out with a rear-naked choke in Round 4 of a fight back in March to become the UFC Women's Flyweight Champion. Grasso hasn't lost a fight since 2019, and she'll look to keep that streak alive in a rematch of what was a thrilling fight.