Alexa Grasso desires to show that her UFC 285 title in over Valentina Shevchenko was no fluke.
The Mexican expertise choked “Bullet” to say the flyweight championship this previous March in Las Vegas, a large upset odds-wise. She’s nonetheless the underdog going into the rematch on Sept. 16 however not in such a large margin like the primary time, and hopes to silence extra doubters with an impeccable efficiency.
“I’d like to knock her out, however I’d additionally prefer to submit her once more with a rear-naked choke so individuals don’t suppose it was luck, a mistake or something like that,” Grasso mentioned on this week’s episode of MMA Combating podcast Trocação Franca, an interview arrange by her sponsor Stake. “I had my plan actually clear. I knew she was going to show, and that was it. It may finish by submission, it may very well be a knockout, however I’ll win [laughs].”
Shevchenko had hassle in her earlier title protection in opposition to Taila Santos, nearly dropping by way of submission earlier than profitable an in depth choice, and was unbeaten in 9 straight flyweight bouts going into her conflict with Grasso. The brand new UFC champion mentioned she realized extra about herself than Shevchenko in March, feeling greater than assured going into the rematch.
“[I learned] that I’m additionally sturdy, that I’m succesful, that I’m not a simple struggle for anybody,” Grasso mentioned. “I have already got loads of knockouts [on my record], however now I felt what’s prefer to submit an individual. I used to be near that earlier than however it didn’t occur, however now I need to submit extra. I realized rather a lot about myself [in that fight], that I’m sturdy, that I’m succesful, that you could obtain something you need.”
“The larger the problem, the more durable it’s important to work and go away all of it in there,” she continued. “I knew she was an important fighter. Her historical past was not performed in a single day, ? She labored for years, so it was crucial for me to complete this struggle as a result of I’m equally disciplined and respectful. I work actually, actually exhausting. My work speaks for itself. To have the ability to submit the champion is just the start of my historical past. I respect her rather a lot, she’s performed many vital issues that I additionally need to do.”
Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 is not going to happen in Mexico soil however on Mexican Independance Day, and the Guadalajara-born star sees the brilliant facet of not competing on a pay-per-view occasion.
“It’s one thing large for me,” Grasso mentioned. “I used to be the primary occasion as soon as however on a small card on the APEX, and now it’s the T-Cell Area, an enormous enviornment. And it’s vital that it’s not a pay-per-view as a result of that approach many individuals in Mexico will be capable to watch it. I’d like to struggle in Mexico however it wasn’t potential, so the great facet is that many individuals will be capable to journey to observe the struggle and that makes me blissful. September 16 is essential for Mexico, so I like being an instance of easy methods to actually struggle on your goals.”
Make mistake about it, although: Grasso desires her subsequent title protection to happen in her dwelling nation.
“I’m blissful, I’m handled very well by the UFC,” she mentioned. “I instructed them I’ll give my all so subsequent time there’s a pay-per-view, ideally in Mexico. They mentioned, ‘Okay, that is your first take a look at’ [laughs].”
