Noche UFC, held on Mexican Independence Day, featured a rare title bout in the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s Fight Night series. Alexa Grasso, the newly minted UFC flyweight women’s champion, faced off against Valentina Shevchenko, the woman she had just dethroned in March of the same year.
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko
Shevchenko is considered by some to be the greatest female mixed martial arts fighter ever. Since joining the UFC, she has dominated opponents such as Holly Holm and Julianna Pena. Despite her success, it took a superb gameplan and performance by Grasso to finally defeat the legendary champion. Grasso showcased excellent striking and defensive grappling throughout the match. While she may have been behind on the scorecards, Grasso managed to take Shevchenko’s back in Round 4, locking in a rear-naked choke, and completing the sensational upset.
The rematch between Grasso and Shevchenko was one of the greatest women’s fights ever, with constant twists, turns, and drama. The fight went back and forth, with both fighters showcasing their skills and heart. In the final frame, Shevchenko seemed to be on her way to winning the striking, but Grasso took her back once again. While she wasn’t able to lock in a rear-naked choke this time, Grasso’s ground-and-pound won her the round, leading to an anti-climactic draw.
Jack Della Maddalena vs. Kevin Holland
In the co-main event, top prospect Jack Della Maddalena faced the always exciting and tough Kevin Holland. Maddalena entered the fight with a perfect 5-0 UFC record, with four first-round finishes. Holland, on the other hand, had bounced back from stoppage losses to divisional elites Khamzat Chimaev and Stephen Thompson with impressive wins over Santiago Ponzinibbio and Michael Chiesa.
The fight between Maddalena and Holland was 15 minutes of pure kickboxing, with Maddalena executing a very intelligent battle plan. He expertly blocked most of Holland’s punches and connected with powerful kicks and punches. Holland showed off his impressive chin, but Maddalena ultimately won a clear decision, 30-27 on one judge’s card.
Exciting Future Fights
Several exciting future fights could feature the combatants from this event. A rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko is warranted, considering their first two meetings were classics. Another potential matchup is Jack Della Maddalena vs. Sean Brady, which would be an excellent test for Maddelena. Kevin Holland could face Vicente Luque, with both fighters known for their exciting and aggressive fighting styles.