Alexa Grasso

LAS VEGAS — The incredible championship run of Valentina Shevchenko came to a stunning end at 4:34 of the fourth round on Saturday when she tapped to a rear ...

Alexa Grasso shocked the world at UFC 286 on Saturday night, submitting seven-time defending flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at the 4:34 mark of the ...

In the fourth, however, she started to defend the takedown better and maintain her desired range. The UFC had waited a long time to crown its first Mexican-born champion. Her boxing combinations continued to find a home throughout, although she struggled to stay on her feet in the second and third rounds. Shevchenko varied her attack on the feet, picking at Grasso's legs and body, and converted four of her six takedown attempts. Shevchenko fought the submission for several moments, before eventually tapping to the choke. She did so as a 6-to-1 underdog and joined flyweight champion [Brandon Moreno](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3027545/brandon-moreno) and interim featherweight champion [Yair Rodriguez](https://www.espn.com/mma/fighter/_/id/3155420/yair-rodriguez) as new Mexican champions this year.

Alexa Grasso shocked the world by submitting Valentina Shevchenko in the fourth round of a closely contested title fight at UFC 285.

Grasso indicated the finish was no accident. Then came the moment in Round 4. Who knew that also applied to the champion?

The Mexican fighter was a huge underdog coming into the fight before securing the rear-naked choke in the fourth round.

"It was the training," Grasso said. Shevchenko, whose win streak was snapped at nine, suffered her first defeat since a disputed split decision against Amanda Nunes in their 2017 rematch for the bantamweight title. Grasso ducked in to instantly take Shevchenko's back while securing a rear-naked choke as the two fell to the ground. "This is kind of what is happening in mixed martial arts. Shevchenko's incredible flyweight title reign, which began in 2018 with a decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant title, reached a UFC female record of seven title defenses. "I have dreamed of this moment for so long."

Sound the upset alarms, Alexa Grasso stunned Valentina Shevchenko with a fourth-round submission win over Bullet to claim the women's flyweight title at ...

I think Grasso is a very tough fighter, but I want to be the one to take the title from her." There will be a number of threats who are looking to pry the belt from her. She took the former champion's back and locked in a choke that forced the tap. Shevchenko continued to exploit her advantage on the ground going into the third round. In doing so, she became the first Mexican woman to earn a UFC title. Bullet didn't become a dominant champion without the ability to adjust, though.

Valentina Shevchenko's nine-fight UFC winning streak at women's flyweight was the longest active streak in the division. But no more.

She worked hard to get to that position... Rogan said the earlier moments Grasso had served as a “wake-up call” for the champion, who made the necessary adjustments. With the round coming to a close though there was little threat for Shevchenko as the fight went to a fourth round and the champion started to regain control of the fight. “I don’t like the stand-up. Shevchenko responded to that early adversity by easily securing a takedown to open the second round, transitioning to a crucifix but Grasso was able to later get back to her feet. Grasso clipped Shevchenko with a right hand early and was troubling the champion with her speed and ability to cover plenty of distance.

And she did it with a submission in the UFC 285 co-main event. Valentina Shevchenko had great timing on her takedowns. But an errant spinning back kick attempt ...

Shevchenko added two more takedowns in the third round and was putting together some crisp jabs early in the fourth. "I feel like I'm dreaming," a jubilant Grasso told Joe Rogan in the Octagon. After Grasso had success with her hands in the first round, Shevchenko shrewdly slowed down the action with a pair of takedowns in the second round.

Valentina Shevchenko suffered a stunning loss to Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 before Jon Jones defeated Ciryl Gane in the main event Saturday night.

[Jones](https://clutchpoints.com/ufc-285-news-jon-jones-boldly-calls-out-stipe-miocic-to-be-his-next-opponent-after-dismantling-ciryl-gane) was the favorite before beating Gane to close out UFC 285. [Valentina Shevchenko](https://clutchpoints.com/ufc-285-news-twitter-blows-up-after-alexa-grasso-stuns-valentina-shevchenko-via-submission) suffered a stunning loss to Alexa Grasso in the UFC women’s flyweight title match. Shevchenko dropped the 125-pound title to Grasso when she was submitted in the fourth round. Nunes is the company’s top-ranked pound-for-pound women’s fighter. Congratulations to Alexa, I know that I’m stronger, and if not for the spinning kick, it would be a different result.” Shevchenko tapped out and Grasso won by submission.

Alexa Grasso became the third Mexican UFC champion of 2023 on Saturday after completing a massive upset against Valentina Shevchenko.

This is part of the game. Grasso took advantage of the mistake. "This is what happens in mixed martial arts," Shevchenko said.