Valentina Shevchenko refuses to leave her next fight in the hands of the judges.
‘Bullet’ will get another crack at reclaiming the 125-pound crown after surrendering the title to current flyweight champion Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 last year. Six months following her shocking submission loss, the two ran it back during the promotion’s Mexican Independence Day event. Unfortunately, little was settled as the bout was controversially ruled a split draw.
With Shevchenko and Grasso competing against one another in the 32nd season of the UFC’s long-running reality series, The Ultimate Fighter, it is all but guaranteed that the two would settle things in a trilogy fight, already rumored to go down in September at Sphere in Las Vegas.
The Ultimate Fighter returns tonight with Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko as the head coaches for #TUF32 💪
10PM ET/7PM PT
(via @UFCEurope) pic.twitter.com/AOz2woqa0w
— COMBAT SPORTS TODAY (@CSTodayNews) June 4, 2024
Speaking with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn ahead of the TUF premiere on Tuesday, June 4, ‘Bullet’ revealed that she has a good relationship with her opponent, particularly after spending six weeks training and coaching their teams of UFC hopefuls.
“I don’t have anything against Alexa,” Grasso said. “She’s doing what she’s doing and in the first fight, the result was the result. The second fight was a draw, but in my opinion, I don’t know. It’s like she was gifted the decision. I don’t know for what reason the judge did whatever, but I don’t have anything against her.
“She has a passion for martial arts and we got along together very good. We share a lot of things in common, the view on martial arts and I think our relationship now is kinda good.”
As for the next time they step inside the Octagon against one another, Shevchenko is confident that she’ll be both faster and stronger than her opponent — an advantage she believes she held in their rematch. However, this time, she will not allow the judges to decide her fate.
“The last fight shows that I was stronger, I was faster, and she only had a few moments that were in her favor,” Shevchenko added. “But just focusing on my performance to be faster and stronger. You definitely don’t want to leave the decision to the judges and I have all the reasons to not leave it for the judges. I don’t want someone’s personal thing to risk the side of professionalism.
“I definitely don’t want it to happen and I will focus more on the finish, no matter what kind of finish, striking, or submission, it has to be done.”
Valentina Shevchenko Addresses Rumors of Her Trilogy Fight with Grasso Going Down at UFC 306
Asked about the proposed date of UFC 306 — September 14, 2024 — Shevchenko could neither confirm nor deny, noting that the promotion is still working things out. But regardless of when or where the fight happens, ‘Bullet’ is ready to strap on the four-ounce gloves and get back to business.
“I don’t know yet because I’m waiting for the final word from the UFC,” Shevchenko said. “They are thinking about what they want to do with the fight, but I’m ready to fight no matter where, when, and how. I fought the last fight, all five rounds, with a broken hand so for me, no matter what, I’m a martial artist. I don’t do it for the fame. I do it because I have a passion and love for martial arts. That’s why I keep doing it no matter what.”
Watch the full interview below:
