Alexa Grasso perplexed by Valentina Shevchenko’s claims

UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is confused by Valentina Shevchenko’s statement about UFC ditching the Mexican Independence Day theme for UFC 306 at Sphere.

Ahead of “The Ultimate Fighter 32” season debut Tuesday on ESPN and ESPN+ (10 p.m. ET), Shevchenko told MMA Junkie it was her understanding the historic Sept. 14 card in Las Vegas would now not be built across the Mexican holiday. It was a curious revelation given UFC CEO Dana White’s repeated statements across the event, wherein many expect to see Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) fight their trilogy bout for the ladies’s flyweight title.

Grasso said she’s yet to receive a bout agreement for the Shevchenko trilogy at UFC 306 and claimed she’s heard nothing that leads her to imagine something has modified with the promotion’s plans.

“So far as I do know, it’s going to be Noche UFC again,” Grasso told MMA Junkie on Monday. “I’ve seen just a few interviews from Dana White, and he’s saying it’s a love letter for the Mexican Independence Day, for the Mexican fighters, and he had a very, really good experience last 12 months with Noche UFC. It will break records on ESPN, UFC Fight Pass. As I do know, it’s going to be 100% dedicated to Mexican Independence Day.”

After Grasso took the title from Shevchenko in a big upset at UFC 285 in March 2023, the pair had their rematch at Noche UFC last September. The fight led to a split draw, meaning Grasso retained the title. They went through all the “TUF 32” filming as a construct toward a trilogy bout, but Shevchenko had previously showed some reluctance to do the third fight in a situation where Grasso would enter because the cornerstone of one other Mexican-themed event.

If, for some reason, Shevchenko declines to fight on that date, Grasso said she’s going to move on to the subsequent contender. She is beyond keen to fight at UFC 306 and would accomplish that whether Shevchenko is her opponent or not.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s Valentina or (Manon) Fiorot – anyone,” Grasso said. “I’m just preparing quite a bit, every area. I’m training each day. I’m in fight camp since I got 100% from my hand. I’m just ready. I just need to fight that day. I would really, truly like to fight that date, and I’ll be ready stronger than ever for that date.”

Grasso said she hopes it’s Shevchenko, because she desires to prove she is superior of their matchup once for all after criticism across the rematch result. If not for a rogue 10-8 scorecard from judge Mike Bell for Grasso within the fifth round, Shevchenko would’ve taken home the choice and the belt.

“I might like to fight with Valentina because it could be the primary trilogy in women’s UFC history,” Grasso said. “We were each coaches, too, and we have now a whole lot of history. She has done a lot for the game. Me too, as the primary Mexican female champion. We’re each doing a whole lot of big things, so I believe that will be the perfect fight, the proper fight. I had the submission. In the second, sadly it was a draw. However the third one goes to be like, OK, now we’re going to know who’s the winner. In order that’s why I might like to be an element of that. I might like to fight her, and I’m super ready. I swear.”

Before she returns to the octagon against whomever it could be, Grasso said she’s excited for the world to see her coach on “TUF 32.” She said she enjoyed the strategy of the truth series and is desirous to showcase what kind of information her staff shared with the group of UFC hopefuls on her team.

“It was 100% me – it was really cool,” Grasso said. “I just want (fans) to know ‘The Ultimate Fighter’ again because a whole lot of persons are excited to look at it, especially here in Mexico. Almost more in Mexico since it’s the primary time a Mexican team was capable of try this, 100% a Mexican team. So it’s huge for me, for my uncle, for my coaches, and for all my team to be a part of this since it was really, really cool. We had guys from everywhere in the world.”