Alexa Grasso retains UFC flyweight crown with draw vs Valentina Shevchenko

MANILA, Philippines – In the very first Noche UFC offering last Sunday (Manila time), Alexa Grasso retained her women’s flyweight title following a controversial draw over former champion Valentina Shevchenko at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

It was obvious that Shevchenko had configured her fight to Grasso’s style, and she struck the champion with jabs while mixing it up with kicks and takedowns.

Grasso though bounced back with a more aggressive style that allowed her to take the even-numbered rounds, including pulling off a knockdown that got her back into the fight. 

In the fifth round with Shevchenko slightly ahead in terms of dictating the pace of the match and strikes thrown, she bungled a takedown attempt that Grasso was able to take advantage. 

Grasso used her knees and controlled the remainder of the round until the bell rang.

The decision was read as a split draw (with one judge awarding a 10-8 in the fifth), meaning the champ retained her title. 

Grasso said, "Thank you all so much! Viva Mexico! I did a lot of damage and my punches were harder. I'm the winner. I did enough. Let's see what's next!" 

An upset Shevchenko minced no words about the decision, "I was expecting a battle and I went through the war to the end. It really was 3-2 on my side, but the judges felt a little bit of pressure because it's Mexican Independence Day, and she's a Mexican fighter."

Sal D’Amato gave a 48-47 decision to Shevchenko while Junichiro Kamijo gave the nod to Grasso, 48-47. Shockingly, Mike Bell awarded a 10-8 fifth round to Grasso that tallied to 47-47 for a split draw.

A 10-8 is awarded for a lopsided control of a round. Thrice Shevchenko came close to submitting Grasso and yet the scores per round were all 10-9 until Bell’s surprising fifth round score.  

Grasso ended the night with the title belt still around her waist and a 16-3-1 record while Shevchenko ended up with a 23-4-1 record.

The next UFC event to be televised live in the Philippines is UFC Fight Night: Rafael Fiziev vs. Mateusz Gamrot that will be shown on Sunday, September 24, at 7 a.m. on the Premier Sports channel on Sky and Cignal as well as on the TapGo TV and Blast TV streaming applications.