UFC Fighters React to Controversial Split Draw in UFC Noche Main Event: “Dear Mike Bell, Quit Your Job”

Tonight’s UFC Noche main event rematch was headlined by women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko.

Grasso, whom this fight night card was built around to celebrate Mexico’s Independence, is entering tonight’s rematch with a significant mental edge. The ferocious thirty-year-old pulled of a huge upset by kicking off longtime champion Shevchenko off the throne at UFC 285. The fight was a back-and-forth battle, with both women having moments in the fight. However, the finish sequence came in the fourth-round when Grasso capitalized on a mistake from then then-champion, submitting her via a rear-naked-choke. The victory marked a fifth consecutive win for Grasso.

Meanwhile, the defeat ended Shevchenko’s dominant run as UFC flyweight champion, snapping her nine-fight win streak in the process. Despite losing her title, the former champion can take positives away from her performance considering she was having her way with Grasso for large periods of the bout. Now sitting in unfamiliar territory, nobody knew what to expect from one of the greatest women MMA fighters of all time. Was her time done at the top? Was she on the decline? We got the answer at UFC Noche.

What Went Down

Tonight’s UFC Noche main event was worth the ticket money alone. Both money endured a back-and-forth battle and struggled to separate themselves over 25-minutes. The challenger had a strong start to the fight landing some great shots in the first round. Round two, Grasso dropped Shevchenko with a beautifully timed shot, winning her the second. Round three, followed by the championship rounds were close to call with many being split on who won these. With the scorecards up in the air, the judges deemed the contest a split draw.

However, that comes with controversy and is probably the reason we see the trilogy. Mike Bell, the judge cage side, scored the fifth-round a 10-8 in favour of Grasso. If he had scored the round 10-9, which many believe it was, Shevchenko would have re-claimed her throne.

Official Result: Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso ends in a split draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47)

Hear how the UFC roster reacted to the main event below.

UFC Fighters React to UFC Noche Main Event

An absolute corker of a fight! All timer in WMMA imo. And it ends in a draw! Wow wow, wow! Well done @AlexaGrasso and @BulletValentina! Incredible!

— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 17, 2023

Tremendous fight by both ladies!!! They seemed to have leveled up in preparation for this rematch. #UFCNoche

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 17, 2023

Each were trying to win every second of that fight in every position.

— Alan Jouban (@AlanJouban) September 17, 2023

https://twitter.com/JalinTurner/status/1703273151227158713

Ok 10-8 round 5 is outrageous ..get him Cruz I’m letting u off the leash

— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 17, 2023

Dear Mike Bell, quit your job! #UFCNoche

— Marion Reneau (@BelizeanBruiser) September 17, 2023

Finished strong. Lost first 4 mins though. Either way- a 10-8??? https://t.co/hE6zd02X80

— michael (@bisping) September 17, 2023

I jokingly called it a draw, everyone in the stands boo’d me.
Then it was a draw 🤯 #NocheUFC

— Julian marquez (@JMarquezMMA) September 17, 2023

Happy that Grasso retains the belt. VIVA LA MEXICO #NocheUFC

— Brad Tavares (@BradTavares) September 17, 2023

“I won that”
“It was a draw”

Damn DC 😂

— Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) September 17, 2023

What a great fight! I'm leaning Grasso 3-2 #UFCNoche

— Vince Morales (@vandetta135) September 17, 2023

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Featured image credits to Embed from Getty ImagesAlexa