This is the live blog for Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3, the co-main event women’s flyweight title fight trilogy this Saturday at UFC 306 Las Vegas.
A massive underdog the first time these two met, Grasso shocked the world by submitting Shevchenko to claim the women’s flyweight title at UFC 285 and end one of the most dominant reigns in UFC history. Six months later, Grasso and Shevchenko rematched in the original Noche UFC, where Grasso managed to retain her title after a highly controversial split draw decision was rendered by the judges. Now, after a year away and a season as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter, the two best flyweights in the world look to finally end their rivalry Saturday night
Check out the UFC 306 co-main event live blog below.
Prefight:
Trilogy time. Let’s go. Keep the division on moving with another surely great fight at flyweight.
The stage is set for the first of the two title fights. Big pillars and statues are the backdrop. A little colosseum-esque.
Shevchenko enters the octagon with her traditional walkout. Grasso follows suit and gets the crowd hyped up.
Round 1:
Here we go. They walk to the middle patiently. Nice left-hand connects early for Shevchenko. Grasso double jabs her way in, prodding. Fast right hook lands on Grasso in an exchange. Grasso keeps trying to find the range with the jab. Gets through with a strong jab from Shevchenko. She’s looking tight and sharp as ever.
Shevchenko times the takedown and gets it relatively easily. Same story as the previous two fights. They now work in guard in the center of the octagon.
Grasso throws up a triangle loosely and converts it to the tease of an armbar and back to a triangle. Grasso lets it go. They’re back in guard, trading punches in close. Grasso tries to stand with a guillotine but fails.
30 seconds. Elbow from Shevchenko, another guillotine stand-up attempt from Shevchenko. They roll to Grasso getting her back taken before the round ends.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 2:
Fighters take the center. Grasso sloppily tries to punch her way in as Shevchenko flows away. Another perfect takedown lands for “Bullet.” Brief omaplata attempt from Grasso. They work in guard, trading little punches.
Shevchenko slowly works to half-guard. Grasso burst and readjusted back to guard, attempting another triangle choke. Back to the armbar for Grasso but a patient Shevchenko breaks out and gets to side control.
They roll and scramble to their feet. Another takedown from Shevchenko gets stuffed but the momentum rolls them to the ground anyway. Back in guard. The reverse triangle gets locked on for Grasso and it’s tight. She lets go and seeks a kimura. No good, armbar threatens but nothing again. A lot of attempts.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 3:
Nice body kick starts the round for Grasso. She goes low with the next one. They trade jabs. Good double jab from Grasso. A sharp Shevchenko combo rips the guard of Grasso followed by a high kick.
Knee in the clinch from Shevchenko. Grasso lands a left hand. Nice right hand for Shevchenko before she hits another successful takedown. Back in the guard they go. Shevchenko works to half guard. Shevchenko moves briefly to mount before Grasso gets things back to full guard. They transition to half and then Grasso gets her back taken again, Horn sounds. Clean work from the former champion.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 4:
The champion comes out quick with a double jab. She needs a finish now or some 10-8s.
A single leg from Shevchenko puts her in a guillotine. Grasso tries to adjust and squeeze it tighter but Shevchenko seems undeterred. Grasso rolls her over briefly before she goes back to her back. The grip is loosening. Shevchenko pops her head out in full guard as Grasso locks on the body triangle from bottom.
Shevchenko moves to half guard, holding a loose arm triangle position. Shevchenko jumps onto mount with the arm triangle and tightens it more effectively. Grasso escapes. Back to half-guard. With 30 seconds left, Shevchenko ends the round in side control and then the crucifix. Punches land before the horn sounds. Champ still needs that finish.
MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Shevchenko.
Round 5:
Grasso takes the center of the octagon as they jockey for control. They trade leg kicks inside. A one-two catches Grasso. Grasso connects with a left hand as they trade shots. Grasso goes for the takedown and gets. They scramble to their feet. Body lock drops Grasso and Shevchenko takes the back but was too high. They stand and separate.
Deep double-leg takedown gets rolled out of by Grasso. Shevchenko holds the body lock and pushes Grasso to the cage. Grasso punches to the body before she gets tripped. They work from full guard once more.
Grasso wall walks to her feet and they break. Shevchenko lends a right straight as the come together. Grasso tries to pull the action back to the ground but gets countered and falls to bottom. Shevchenko takes the back to end the fight there as she did in previous rounds.
We have a two-time flyweight champion, folks.
MMA Fighting scores the fight 10-9 Shevchenko, 50-45 Shevchenko overall.
Official Decision: 50-45 all - Unanimous Decision for Shevchenko
Post-fight:
Complete domination from Valentina. Leaned brilliantly on the grappling, which was her dominant realm against Grasso in every fight despite some bad spots and the loss in fight No. 1. At the same time, credit to Grasso for threatening with boatloads of submissions.
Time to move on. Shevchenko vs. Fiorot. Let’s do it.
To close it out, Shevchenko throws out her several thousand languages she knows, including Spanish, of course.
