Valentina Shevchenko, the newly crowned undisputed flyweight champion, has opened up about her surprise at how many fellow fighters doubted her heading into her trilogy fight with Alexa Grasso earlier this month at Noche UFC.
The former two-time champion, who reclaimed her title in Las Vegas, said she didn’t expect so many fighters to pick against her for the third fight. The UFC star secured a dominant unanimous decision victory over Grasso, ending their trilogy in impressive fashion at the Las Vegas Sphere.
Shevchenko had previously faced Grasso twice, with the Mexican fighter ending her long reign as flyweight champion in March 2023. That upset came via a neck crank submission, shocking the MMA world. The pair then fought again in a closely contested split decision draw last year at Noche UFC.
Despite being the betting underdog leading up to their third bout, Shevchenko expressed her surprise at the support for Grasso among her peers.
Valentina Shevchenko Stunned by Doubters Ahead of UFC Noche
“Surprisingly for me, many UFC fighters, many pro fighters, when they had their picks before our third fight, they said, ‘Grasso… oh Grasso.’ It was kind of one-sided,” Shevchenko told MMA Fighting during an interview.
Shevchenko found it understandable when fans, who might not have an in-depth knowledge of martial arts, picked against her. However, she was taken aback when experienced fighters made the same predictions.
“It was a little bit surprising for me that I would take it from people who don’t know much about martial arts,” Shevchenko said, “They just want to see who has the stronger chin, a stronger head, and it doesn’t involve too much technique, too much fighter IQ, too much of the character of the fighter.”
Shevchenko further explained how the pro fighters’ views motivated her even more: “I would take it from those people, but when pro fighters say that, it was like, ‘Oh my God, there’s something wrong with this world.’”
Re-Claiming The Belt
For Shevchenko, proving herself in the octagon went beyond just winning. She felt it was necessary to demonstrate her dominance in every aspect of the sport. “That’s another reason I had to show domination,” Shevchenko continued. “I had to show I’m superior in every field.”
The trilogy fight saw Shevchenko return to the top of the division, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest flyweights in UFC history. Grasso, who had become a fan favourite following her upset victory in their first fight, couldn’t replicate the same success in the final meeting.
The former champion’s comments highlight the mental and emotional side of fighting at the highest level. Even with her long list of accomplishments, Shevchenko still feels the need to prove herself, especially when so many within the sport question her abilities.
Now that she has reclaimed her throne, Shevchenko will likely be looking to continue her reign and prove once again why she’s considered one of the best in the sport. As for Grasso, it remains to be seen whether a fourth fight will be in the cards or if the Mexican fighter will need to work her way back up the ranks after her loss in the trilogy.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
