Shevchenko vs Grasso

Who won Shevchenko vs Grasso?

Alexa Grasso beat Valentina Shevchenko by submission in the 4th round during the co-main event of UFC 285, on Saturday 4th March 2023 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

The fight was scheduled to take place over 5 rounds in the Women’s Flyweight division, which meant the weight limit was 125 pounds (8.9 stone or 56.7 KG).

This contest was for the UFC Women’s Flyweight championship.

Shevchenko vs Grasso stats

Valentina Shevchenko stepped into the octagon with a record of 23 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 8 of those wins coming by the way of knock out and 7 by submission.

Alexa Grasso made her way to the cage with a record of 15 wins, 3 losses and 0 draws, 4 of those wins coming by knock out and 1 by submission.

Valentina Shevchenko's UFC record stood at 12-3-1, while Alexa Grasso's came in at 8-3-1.

The stats suggested Shevchenko had a slight advantage in power over Grasso, with a 35% knock out percentage over Grasso's 27%.

If the fight went to the ground, their records suggested Shevchenko had a large advantage over Grasso, boasting a 30% submission rate over Grasso's 7%.

Valentina Shevchenko was the older woman by 6 years, at 36 years old.

Grasso had a 1-inch reach advantage.

Shevchenko was the more experienced professional fighter, having had 8 more fights, and made her debut in 2003, 9 years and 7 months earlier than Grasso, whose first professional fight was in 2012. She had fought 28 more professional rounds, 81 to Grasso's 53.

Shevchenko vs Grasso form

Shevchenko had won all 5 of her most recent fights, stopping 3 opponents and going to the judges twice.

In her last fight before this contest, she had won against Taila Santos at UFC 275 on 11th June 2022 by split decision in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at Singapore Indoor Stadium, Singapore.

Previous to that, she had beaten Lauren Murphy at UFC 266 on 25th September 2021 by knockout in the 4th round in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Going into that contest, she had defeated Jessica Andrade at UFC 261 on 24th April 2021 by knockout in the 2nd round in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville.

Before that, she was victorious against Jennifer Maia at UFC 255 on 21st November 2020 by unanimous decision in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

She had won against Katlyn Chookagian at UFC 247 on 8th February 2020 by knockout in the 3rd round in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at Toyota Center, Houston.

Alexa Grasso had beaten 4 of her last 5 opponents.

In her last fight leading up to this contest, she had drawn with Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night – Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 on 16th September 2023 by split draw in their 5 round contest in their UFC Women’s Strawweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, United States.

Previous to that, she had beaten Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 285 on 4th March 2023 by submission in the 4th round in their UFC Women’s Flyweight championship fight at T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas.

Going into that contest, she had defeated Viviane Araujo at UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Araujo on 15th October 2022 by unanimous decision in their 5 round contest at UFC Apex, Las Vegas.

Before that, she was victorious against Joanne Calderwood at UFC Fight Night Columbus on 26th March 2022 by submission in the 1st round at Nationwide Arena, Columbus.

She had won against Maycee Barber at UFC 258 on 13th February 2021 by unanimous decision in their 3 round contest at UFC APEX, Las Vegas.

Activity check

In terms of activity leading into the fight, Alexa Grasso had been fighting more than Valentina Shevchenko.

Going to this contest, Valentina Shevchenko had last fought 2 years, 1 month and 13 days ago, while Alexa Grasso's last outing had been 10 months and 8 days ago.

Shevchenko's last 5 fights had come over a period of 4 years, 5 months and 16 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 10 months and 21 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 19 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.8 rounds on average.

Grasso's last 5 fights had come over a period of 3 years, 5 months and 11 days, meaning she had been fighting on average every 8 months and 8 days. In those fights, she fought a total of 18 rounds, meaning that they had lasted 3.6 rounds on average.

What were the odds on Shevchenko vs Grasso?

Valentina Shevchenko was a 11/100 (-910) favourite going into the contest, while Alexa Grasso made her way into the ring at 23/4 (+580) with oddsmakers.