Noche UFC outcomes: Alexa Grasso retains title in basic cut up draw vs. Valentina Shevchenko

Alexa Grasso retained her title in a rematch in opposition to Valentina Shevchenko, however she didn’t add a win to her document.

In the principle occasion of Noche UFC at T-Cell Enviornment in Las Vegas, Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) met Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) in a direct rematch for the ladies’s flyweight title. After 5 hard-fought, back-and-forth rounds, the judges couldn’t decide a winner. Two judges issued dueling 48-47 scores, whereas a 3rd turned in a 47-47 rating, leading to a cut up draw.

The professional-Mexico crowd poured in varied chants within the opening moments of the combat as the principle eventers received the motion began with their first placing exchanges. Shevchenko seemed to combine issues up with a takedown, however Grasso wasn’t having it. Nonetheless, a number of moments later, Shevchenko was profitable in getting the combat to the canvas. Grasso almost gave up her again, however scrambled again to her toes, prompting extra chants from the group.

Shevchenko continued to guide the dance on the toes early in Spherical 2, however a takedown try was stuffed by Grasso. Shortly after the reset, Grasso linked with a tough proper hand that despatched Shevchenko down. Grasso rushed in to capitalize, however Shevchenko was capable of seize maintain to decelerate the follow-up assaults.

GRASSO DROPPED SHEVCHENKO 😳 #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/OMW0DEzgZ0

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 17, 2023

Grasso discovered area to attach with a number of quick strikes, however Shevchenko survived the scare after which accomplished a pleasant double leg. Grasso threatened a guillotine choke, however Shevchenko finally labored free. Grasso landed a number of good strikes from backside earlier than the horn.

Shevchenko took Grasso down cleanly for the primary massive motion of Spherical 3. She then shortly attacked the neck, leaping on a mounted guillotine try. Grasso remained calm, finally inflicting Shevchenko to surrender on the submission. Shevchenko then took Grasso’s again and managed the place for the rest of the spherical.

Grasso sprawled a takedown try properly, and landed a number of good knees to the pinnacle whereas Shevchenko tried to maintain one hand on the mat. She then dumped Shevchenko to the mat and attacked an arm, however Shevchenko slipped out and the pair returned to buying and selling strikes within the heart of the cage. Shevchenko seemed for a takedown with lower than 30 seconds to go, however discovered herself defending a kneebar from Grasso.

With the combat showing shut going into the ultimate spherical, somebody wanted to make an announcement within the final 5 minutes.

Shevchenko labored behind a quick jab and provided a better quantity as a bloody Grasso stalked. Shevchenko went for a headlock takedown, however Grasso slipped off within the reversal and took her again. Massive punches had been rained down by Grasso. She then locked in a physique triangle and went for a rear bare choke. Shevchenko didn’t faucet, however she additionally couldn’t get Grasso off her again earlier than the ultimate horn.

After an unimaginable 25 minutes, the one factor left to do was to find out the winner – besides there wouldn’t be one on the night as Bruce Buffer introduced the cut up draw.

Alexa Grasso retains her UFC girls’s flyweight title by cut up draw 🏆 #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/MqhCdfoi5q

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 17, 2023

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“I used to be very shut the entire time, simply doing a variety of harm,” Grasso advised Daniel Cormier throughout her post-fight interview. “I do know I used to be attempting to submit, and I believe I did sufficient.”

Shevchenko, nonetheless, was just a little extra blunt in her opinion about the results of the combat.

“I believe it was 3-2 on my aspect, however judges I believe felt just a little bit like stress as a result of it’s type of like Mexican Independence Day,” Shevchenko advised Cormier. “That’s why I believe they provide another to the Mexican fighter.

… I fought to the tip, and I believe I did sufficient. In a good combat, in a good competitors, victory can be mine.”

The pair first met at UFC 285 in March, the place Grasso pulled off one one the most important upsets of the yr by submitting Shevchenko in Spherical 4. The end result prompted a direct rematch. With the second assembly leading to a draw, maybe a 3rd assembly can be on the horizon.

Full Noche UFC outcomes embrace:

• Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko ends in cut up draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47)
• Jack Della Maddalena def. Kevin Holland via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Raul Rosas Jr. def. Terrence Mitchell via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 0:54
• Daniel Zellhuber def. Christos Giagos via submission (anaconda choke) – Round 2, 3:26
• Kyle Nelson def. Fernando Padilla via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 30-27)
• Loopy Godinez def. Elise Reed via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 3:38
• Roman Kopylov def. Josh Fremd via TKO (body punch) – Round 2, 4:44
• Edgar Chairez vs. Daniel Lacerda declared no contest (referee stoppage overturned) – Round 1, 3:47
• Tracy Cortez def. Jasmine Jasudavicius via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Charlie Campbell def. Alex Reyes via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 3:38
• Josefine Knutsson def. Marnic Mann via unanimous decision (30-24, 30-25, 30-27)

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for Noche UFC.