It’s been nearly precisely six months since Valentina Shevchenko misplaced her UFC flyweight title, however she plans to rectify that in her rematch with Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC on Saturday.
A seven-fight championship reign got here to an finish after Shevchenko threw an ill-fated spinning again kick, which led to a takedown from Grasso adopted by a rear-naked choke submission. It had been nearly six years since Shevchenko final tasted defeat, and it was the primary time she had ever actually been completed in an MMA battle (a earlier TKO loss to Liz Carmouche got here because of a lower suffered throughout a battle Shevchenko was successful).
Regardless of successful the vast majority of the battle, Shevchenko’s mistake value her every part. So she’s been confused by the rising narrative that Grasso was destined to beat her as a result of she’s misplaced a step, or maybe that her time as some of the dominant champions within the UFC has lastly handed.
“She had one profitable shot perhaps within the first spherical,” Shevchenko informed MMA Preventing. “This shot was caught on cameras and now everyone seems to be taking a look at this shot solely with out watching all of the battle and saying all these things they’ll deliver it up. It was not like that. It’s sort of like one second, however sadly this second defines the entire outcome.
“I used to be successful the battle. That is what’s MMA. MMA it’s a tough battle type, it’s a really onerous battle recreation. Typically this occurs, however an important factor is that I’ve the chance to make every part proper, the way it’s alleged to be the primary time.”
Whereas some previous UFC champions have mentioned shedding the belt was nearly a weight off their shoulders because of the consideration and stress that comes together with that degree of standing, Shevchenko by no means counted herself in that group.
A UFC title didn’t essentially outline Shevchenko’s existence, but it surely was a standing image that she was one of the best on the earth, which has been her aim in martial arts since she first began preventing. Shedding her belt simply made Shevchenko need it again that rather more.
“I truly don’t perceive people who find themselves saying it was sort of a aid shedding the belt,” Shevchenko mentioned. “I actually don’t perceive. As a result of it’s not a aid. It’s additional stress as a result of you need to get it again now. In case you ask me what I select, I select stress with the belt.”
The will to change into champion once more may solely be trumped by Shevchenko’s must avenge the loss to Grasso. Shevchenko holds no sick will towards the 30-year-old Mexican fighter, however she desires to scrub the dangerous style of defeat from her mouth.
One among Shevchenko’s defining traits throughout her almost eight-year run with the UFC has been the scary focus and dedication she’s carried into her fights. She nearly transforms into an murderer within the cage, devoid of emotion till the job is finished.
This time round, Shevchenko guarantees she received’t carry any pointless anger or aggression into the cage, however a renewed sense of function to get rid of Grasso at any value.
“I’m not taking part in round,” Shevchenko mentioned. “I’ll simply go there, my aim — enter the octagon, end, destroy my opponent, take my belt again and proceed what I’ve to proceed.”
Name it her doomsday strategy to the Grasso rematch, as a result of Shevchenko has no want to even ponder what comes subsequent for her till after this battle is over.
Sure, Shevchenko will proceed preventing previous Saturday, however by all accounts, that’s the final night time of her life till she vanquishes Grasso as soon as and for all.
“For me, there isn’t any after,” Shevchenko defined. “There isn’t a Sunday. There isn’t a Monday after that following Saturday. For me, I reside solely with at the present time. It’s sort of like I’m not having plans what’s going to be subsequent. All the things for me, all of my focus, all my dedication, all my energy, power, mentality, character, spirit, all of it goes to Sept. 16.
“Slowly and certainly, we’re going to strategy Sept. 16, and I will likely be prepared for that date. I will likely be able to take what’s mine.”
And for the naysayers who’ve mentioned her time is finished, Shevchenko solely has one message to ship to them.
“The top is once I resolve and it’s not going to be any time very quickly,” Shevchenko mentioned. “I’m going to be preventing whereas I really feel like preventing. I need to battle. I need to win this belt and I’ll win this belt.”
