Alexa Grasso produced a shocking upset by tapping out Valentina Shevchenko to win the UFC women's flyweight title.
Shevchenko landed the first big shots of the fight as she connected with a left hook and spinning back-fist before narrowly missing a wheel kick. The Las Vegas crowd were divided as chants of "Mexico" and "Valentina" echoed around the T-Mobile Arena in the opening round. Grasso showed she was no slouch on the feet by snapping the head back of Shevchenko with some great jabs early on.
After a close first round, Shevchenko opened the second stanza by taking Grasso down and working towards a crucifix position. Grasso was defending well by not taking many punches on the ground and the Mexican did a good job of eventually getting back to her feet. The tentative exchanges then resumed on the feet as Shevchenko picked her shots at range and took Grasso down again as the round came to a close.
Fans were getting frustrated with the lack of action as Shevchenko took Grasso down again in the third round but didn't land many strikes from the top position. Referee Jason Herzog stood the fighters up but Shevchenko wasted no time in getting Grasso the mat again and came close to wrapping up a rear-naked choke, with Grasso reversing the position moments later to threaten a choke of her own.
Shevchenko was in cruise control come the fourth round but the tides suddenly turned when she gave up her back after throwing a spinning kick that missed. Grasso wasted no time in searching for a choke and she jumped on Shevchenko's back and locked her arms underneath the chin of her opponent to secure a rear-naked choke and force the tap, crowning her the win women's flyweight champion.
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Grasso becomes the only fighter other than two-weight champion Amanda Nunes to beat Shevchenko, who was unbeaten in nine fights heading into UFC 285. Grasso is now unbeaten in her last five fights and all signs for her first title defence point towards an immediate rematch against Shevchenko, something the Mexican welcomed in her post-fight interview.
"I just won the most important fight of my life," Grasso said. "I did everything I had to do to get my hand raised and I knew I had to finish the fight. I was super happy before and I dreamt of this moment every single night for three months. the way I was walking to the octagon and the way I won the belt. Of course we can do this fight against as she was so dominant in this division."
