Alexa Grasso says Shevchenko relationship is ‘really weird’

Alexa Grasso has by no means had as a lot interplay with an opponent as she had Valentina Shevchenko forward of their trilogy battle at UFC 306.

After preventing twice in 2023, Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) and Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) served as coaches on Season 32 of “The Final Fighter” actuality collection, the place they spent a number of weeks in shut quarters. It’s been a respectful relationship between the 2 sides for the reason that first time they fought, however the aggressive animosity after two outcomes has grown underneath the floor.

At this level, Grasso struggles to explain her relationship with Shevchenko. She will solely say it’s uncommon compared to different experiences thus far in her preventing profession.

“We’ve been so many occasions collectively,” Grasso advised MMA Junkie on Monday in an interview facilitated by Stake.com. “All by way of the present. We had loads of faceoffs. Once more and repeatedly. I don’t know. It’s actually, actually bizarre. I can inform it’s actually bizarre. However on the finish of the day, on battle week, and the day of the battle, issues change. We’re going to attempt to kill one another and that’s an important factor. It’s actually cool to have the ability to meet along with her extra. We have been capable of do loads of stuff collectively.”

What Grasso can maintain Shevchenko in excessive regard about their battle, nonetheless, is the actual fact they’re about to do one thing unprecedented. Their co-main occasion conflict on the Sept. 14 card, often known as Riyadh Season Noche UFC at Sphere in Las Vegas, would be the first UFC title battle to ever happen at Sphere. Furthermore, it’ll mark the primary ladies’s trilogy bout in UFC historical past.

Grasso wouldn’t need anybody aside from Shevchenko to be her dance associate on this state of affairs.

“She has achieved a lot and is a extremely large inspiration to be on this stage and doing this stuff making historical past,” Grasso mentioned. “We’re doing one thing actually cool. The primary ladies’s trilogy. The primary battle was wonderful. The second battle was so, so wonderful. You may anticipate the third battle goes to be a hell of a battle.”

Within the first battle at UFC 285 in March 2023, Grasso pulled off what was thought of on the time to be a surprising upset by fourth-round submission. A right away rematch was booked for September 2023, and it led to a controversial and uncommon break up draw. Many felt Shevchenko ought to’ve bought the nod on the scorecards, however a highly-criticized 10-8 scorecard for Grasso in Spherical 5 from decide Mike Bell left the battle with no winner.

Now every thing is on the road for the trilogy battle, and Grasso mentioned the onus is on Shevchenko to adapt and are available after her belt.

“She has a method the place she waits an excessive amount of,” Grasso mentioned. “She’s simply going again and again and again. I don’t assume that’s (thought). If you wish to get your belt again, I don’t assume that’s the best way to try this. If you need the belt it’s a must to go for it. I’d love that. I like to change. I really like battles. However she has a preventing model the place she’s going again, again, again – I’m unsure that’s going to work. I do know precisely what I have to do to safe my win. I hope that she will do extra exchanges and go ahead and chase that belt.”

For extra on the cardboard, go to MMA Junkie’s occasion hub for UFC 306.