Valentina Shevchenko managed to reclaim her flyweight belt from Alexa Grasso at UFC 306, where the two fighters completed their trilogy. After being submitted in their first meeting and ending the second in a controversial draw, Shevchenko left no room for doubt this time, securing a unanimous decision victory.
While Shevchenko was thrilled to regain her title, she felt that the lead-up to the rematch, especially ESPN’s coverage, wasn’t in her favour. In the post-fight press conference, Shevchenko voiced her frustrations with how her performances were portrayed by the media outlet.
“I feel ESPN was showing so much favouritism toward Alexa Grasso,” Shevchenko told reporters after the fight:
“Even in the second fight with Alexa, so every time showing the moment when she’s winning or she’s doing good combinations.”
Valentina Shevchenko Slams ESPN for Biased Promotion of Alexa Grasso Ahead of UFC 306
Shevchenko felt that the broadcast would often highlight Grasso’s best moments, while her own successful exchanges were downplayed or overlooked entirely.
“And my combinations, they just ignored. But I won the fight, but they just ignored,” Shevchenko continued, “All the people had this feeling that she won the fight, and it was a draw. I felt it was unfair a little bit, and now there is no way for them to show these clips. It’s going to do right and show the right clips now.”
With the third fight in the books, Shevchenko seemed ready to move on from her rivalry with Grasso. Although some fans might be interested in a fourth fight, Shevchenko made it clear that it’s not something she’s considering at the moment.
Shevchenko Looking to Move Past Grasso
“I think it would be good to see somebody different,” Shevchenko said: “Right now, I don’t think it would be the appropriate fight.”
It’s worth noting that Manon Fiorot was present as the backup fighter for this event, suggesting she could be next in line for a shot at the title. With Shevchenko signaling her desire to face new challengers, Fiorot may very well be that fresh opponent she’s looking for.
Shevchenko’s comments on ESPN’s coverage add an interesting layer to the broader narrative surrounding the UFC and how fighters perceive media portrayal. Many fighters, not just Shevchenko, have been vocal in the past about what they feel is uneven representation in promotional material and fight week coverage. For Shevchenko, it’s a matter of fairness, especially when the performances inside the cage tell one story, but the coverage outside of it paints a different picture.
Grasso, on the other hand, will likely regroup and work her way back into title contention. Their trilogy was one of the more memorable rivalries in the division, and while Valentina Shevchenko wants to move forward, Grasso might still have her eyes on getting another crack at the title down the line.
For now, it’s Shevchenko’s time to celebrate her return to the top of the flyweight division. After a back-and-forth trilogy, she has emerged victorious, and the next chapter of her reign begins. Whether or not the media will give her the recognition she believes she deserves, only time will tell. But for Shevchenko, it seems the most important thing was winning her belt back and doing so in convincing fashion.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
