Alexa Grasso made historical past on Saturday as she submitted flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285, changing into the 3rd Mexican-born champion within the UFC this yr. The struggle was once a detailed contest, with Grasso proving to be a worthy challenger all the way through. Shevchenko gave the impression to be in keep an eye on till Grasso capitalized on a unmarried mistake and submitted the champion with a rear-naked choke on the 4:34 mark of the fourth spherical.
Grasso, who was once a 6-to-1 underdog, known as the instant a dream come true. “Please punch me, I feel like I’m dreaming,” Grasso stated. “I’ve been dreaming for this moment for so long.” The win was once a large disenchanted and ranks because the 6th greatest disenchanted in a UFC identify struggle within the closing 15 years.
Shevchenko was once gracious in defeat, acknowledging that one mistake can alternate the entire recreation. “You’re winning the fight all around, no doubt, and a single situation can change the whole thing. This is part of the game. Congratulations to Alexa,” she stated. She known as for a right away rematch after the end result was once learn.
The win marks an important second within the historical past of Mexican MMA. Brandon Moreno turned into the first-ever Mexican-born champion in January, and now the corporate has topped 3 in 3 months, together with meantime featherweight champion Yair Rodriguez. This follows a statement previous this yr that the UFC will open a Performance Institute in Mexico City within the fourth quarter of 2023.
Grasso’s bonus at UFC 285
Grasso’s victory at UFC 285 additionally earned her a $50,000 “Performance of the Night” award, whilst Bo Nickal, who made his Octagon debut, gained the similar bonus for his arm-triangle choke victory over Jamie Pickett.
Shavkat Rakhmonov and Geoff Neal earned “Fight of the Night” honors and $50,000 each and every for his or her welterweight conflict. Rakhmonov emerged victorious with a status rear-naked choke within the 3rd spherical. Despite lacking weight on Friday, UFC president Dana White showed that Neal would obtain his bonus take a look at.
With Grasso’s victory, the UFC has added any other bankruptcy to the continuing tale of Mexican dominance in MMA.
Also learn | Mexican fighter Alexa Grasso makes historical past with disenchanted win over UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko
Alexa Grasso an ideal fighter
Karen Alexa Grasso Montes is a fierce fighter from Mexico. Born in 1993, she has made a reputation for herself within the flyweight department of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), the place she recently holds the UFC Women’s Flyweight Chahttps://www.hindustantimes.com/sports activities/others/mexican-fighter- alexa-grasso-makes-history-with-upset-win-over-ufc-champion-valentina-shevchenko-101678021792861.htmlmpionship. She may be a UFC analyst for Spanish pronounces.
Grasso made her skilled debut in MMA in December 2012 in her house nation and went on an undefeated streak for her first eighteen months of her profession. After taking a wreck from the game, Grasso joined Invicta FC and persevered her profitable techniques with two TKO wins and a unanimous resolution win, along side her first Fight of the Night bonus award.
In August 2016, she joined the UFC and has since fought one of the most easiest combatants on this planet. While she has skilled a couple of losses, she has additionally received a number of of her fights by way of unanimous resolution. Grasso has confronted accidents, weight-cutting problems, and struggle cancellations, however she stays a fierce fighter with an excellent document.