Valentina Shevchenko is ready for her third fight against Alexa Grasso at UFC 306 and believes the series is tied at one win each. This upcoming match will be a historic moment as it marks the first trilogy for women in UFC history on Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas, with Grasso defending her 125-pound title. Shevchenko is determined to reclaim the title she lost to Grasso at UFC 285 in March 2023.
Their last fight at Noche UFC in September 2023 saw them end in a split draw in a thrilling battle. Grasso has advised Shevchenko on how to approach their upcoming third match, but Shevchenko is confident that her performance in the second fight was strong enough to secure a win.
Shevchenko looks back on their second fight and believes she should have won three out of the five rounds. She attributes her success in the last match to her strategic approach and is not bothered by any criticisms from Grasso or anyone else.
At 36 years old, Shevchenko is a seasoned fighter and has earned her place as one of the best female fighters in UFC history, with 28 pro MMA fights under her belt, 16 of which were in the UFC. Despite doubts surrounding her ability to defeat the younger and rising star champion Grasso, Shevchenko is motivated by the challenge.
Her strategy for the third fight involves putting pressure on Grasso without letting the pressure get to her. She gives credit to her coach Pavel Fedotov for getting her mentally and physically prepared for the match, aiming to showcase a remarkable performance highlighting her speed and power till the very end.
