Alexa Grasso’s highway to the UFC title wasn’t as clean as most individuals thought it was.
Though Grasso (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) stays unbeaten since shifting to 125 kilos and now has the division’s title, her path to the highest did include adversity – even when it wasn’t mirrored within the outcomes of her profession at flyweight.
In a current interview with UFC Español, the Mexican fighter revealed that she tore her ACL in her unanimous choice win towards Maycee Barber again in 2021, which put questions round her future in MMA.
“That is one thing that I’ve by no means spoken about as a result of it could damage me and I assumed I used to be by no means going to be the identical fighter,” Grasso stated, talking in Spanish. “Within the third spherical towards Maycee Barber, like round two minutes in, we had a bizarre motion and my knee stayed caught on the canvas and I heard a pop. I used to be like, ‘Oh, one thing is unsuitable,’ and clearly it was my worst spherical.
“I couldn’t transfer the identical. And once I walked on it, it felt like when your sandal is moist and your foot slides away. I assumed, ‘This will’t be taking place. I’m successful the combat.’ I wished to throw myself on the bottom and simply say no extra, it’s over. I attempted to combat with my again towards the fence as a lot as I may. I gave it one of the best of me and I gained the combat.”
Grasso gained the primary two rounds towards Barber (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC) and misplaced the third on all three judges’ scorecards, successful a 29-28 unanimous choice throughout the board.
She received surgical procedure the week after the combat at UFC 258 in February 2021 and that’s why she didn’t return once more till March 2022 when she submitted Joanne Wooden.
The restoration and first combat again was scary for Grasso, as she was not sure if her preventing type was going to be compromised.
“After that, the next week I received surgical procedure,” Grasso stated. “I stated, ‘I have to get this performed immediately.’ I additionally didn’t need to communicate so much about it as a result of when you could have an damage that unhealthy, then your opponents simply need to goal your knee, clearly. That’s why I stayed quiet and stated nothing.
“I did rehab, and likewise received the chance to do commentary (for UFC Español) at a time that I used to be actually low. I assumed, ‘Let’s see if I’m going to be the identical as earlier than. If my footwork goes to be the identical. It damage terribly. A torn ACL is the worst, the nightmare of any athlete. However I did my rehab, I did greater than I wanted to return again higher, I recuperate, and two years later I’m champion and that fills me with pleasure.
“I now not consider the surgical procedure, and it now not hurts. I typically keep in mind, ‘Oh yeah, I’ve a graft,’ however that’s prior to now, and it’s a part of the method. It’s one thing we run the danger of at any time when we combat.”
Barber has put collectively 4 consecutive wins since shedding to Grasso. After her most up-to-date victory, which was a break up choice win over veteran Andrea Lee, Barber made her intentions clear, saying she needs to get a rematch towards Grasso.
Grasso final fought in March, when she submitted then champion Valentina Shevchenko to say the UFC girls’s flyweight title within the co-main occasion of UFC 285. She has but to be booked for a return, however UFC president Dana White indicated that Grasso will probably defend her belt towards Shevchenko in a right away rematch.
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