When UFC girls’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko full a trilogy later this yr, it must be the final time they meet. After that? Each fighters count on to welcome new challengers.
That, in fact, will depend upon the results of their Sept. 14 showdown on the Sphere in Las Vegas, which may headline UFC 306. The battle will happen on the heels of Grasso and Shevchenko teaching this season of “The Final Fighter,” which filmed earlier this yr and premiered this previous Tuesday on ESPN and ESPN+.
In two earlier encounters, Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) scored an all-time upset when she claimed the title from Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) with a fourth-round submission in March 2023 at UFC 285. Six months later, the 2 fought to a hotly debated cut up draw of their rematch at Noche UFC. Wanting a transparent winner within the trilogy, this must be it for Grasso and Shevchenko, who each stay up for new blood within the type of high contender Manon Fiorot or the winner of subsequent month’s Maycee Barber vs. Rose Namajunas primary occasion at UFC Combat Night time in Denver. Erin Blanchfield may be within the combine regardless of dropping to Fiorot in March, relying on timing and circumstances.
Fiorot, who’s using a 12-fight profitable streak after back-to-back wins over Namajunas and Blanchfield, figures to be in pole place amongst these names.
“Proper now, at this second after (our) battle, Manon and Erin. I feel Manon is on this record,” Shevchenko advised MMA Junkie. “However something can occur for this time. Nonetheless we’ve extra time, like three months, slightly bit extra after we relaxation slightly bit. Something can occur, however at this second, I’d say battle Manon, and Erin introduced Manon on this place.”
Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is actually a matchup that Grasso would relish given the pairing of types.
“If I’ve to battle her, that shall be superior,” Grasso advised MMA Junkie. “She’s large, she’s sturdy, she has a whole lot of good placing. So, for me, it may very well be an ideal battle.”
To not be forgotten, although, is Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC). The 26-year-old, who as soon as promised to be the youngest UFC champion of all time, has come into her personal, presently on a six-fight profitable streak in opposition to elevated competitors. Ought to she get previous Namajunas with a formidable efficiency, it may result in a rematch with Grasso, who beat her by unanimous choice in February 2021.
That’s a end result Barber hasn’t gotten over, and he or she’s let it’s identified – which isn’t any large deal to the champ.
“That’s OK. All of us should make noise to be there,” Grasso mentioned. “However yeah, if there’s a second she’s the contender and I’m the champion, we’re gonna battle once more.”
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