Valentina Shevchenko won back the flyweight title in her trilogy fight with Alexa Grasso tonight at UFC 306 by controlling the action with her dominant wrestling.
Round One:
The co-main event women’s flyweight trilogy fight is underway at the Sphere.
Leg kick for Shevchenko. Flurry of punches from Grasso as she presses forward, but comes off the guard.
Left hand for Shevchenko as Grasso comes into range. Again Grasso comes forward and Shevchenko lands a nice hook in response on the counter.
Shevchenko with a jab. Now she nicely times a takedown and lands it in the center of the Octagon. Good start for the former champ.
Shevchenko taking her time on top while Grasso is trying to find a way to get back to her feet or set up a submission.
Grasso gets her legs up and is now trying to set up an armbar. Shevchenko wary here as she tries to fend this off, and is able to do so. Shevchenko then gets tight to Grasso while remaining in her full guard.
Grasso trying to sink in a guillotine choke, but Shevchenko steers just clear of that. Nice elbow strike for Shevchenko. Grasso finds some space and tries to escape, but Shevchenko adjusts and ends up in full mount. She then moves to Grasso’s back late in the round. Shevchenko goes for the rear-naked choke, but there’s not enough time left to do anything with it.
Round Two:
Grasso reaches out with a jab. Shevchenko being mindful of her range here. Shevchenko again times a takedown well to get the fight back down to the mat in the center of the Octagon.
Grasso attempting to work an omaplata but then gives up on it. Shevchenko stays tight to Grasso until she then passes to half-guard.
A couple of light punches to the head from Shevchenko. Grasso gets her back to her full guard and gets her legs up threatening to work an armbar. shevchenko keeps her form then suddenly gets free and works to side control.
Grasso able to scramble back to her feet now. However, Shevchenko goes quickly in for another takedown and gets it.
Grasso locks up her guard for now. Now Grasso starts chaining submission attempts, trying for a triangle chokee, an armbar, a kimura. So far Shevchenko is steering clear of getting fully caught in these attempts though, and she gets free as the round comes to a close.
Round Three:
Shevchenko staying at range. Low kick from Grasso. Missed kick from Shevchenko and Grasso lands the double jab.
Grazing punches from Shevchenko. Grasso misses a punch as Shevchenko takes a step back and then throws out a head kick attempt nicely.
Grasso swatting at thin air and Shevchenko steps in to land a knee. Now a kick from Shevchenko.
Grasso comes forward with punches but Shevchenko also finds a home for her right hand. She lands it again. Great timing on Shevchenko’s takedown attempts in the center of the Octagon again.
Shevchenko in Grasso’s half-guard. 90 seconds in the round remaining. Very nice move into full mount, but Grasso does well to bring her back to her butterfly guard.
Elbow strike for Shevchenko. There’s a scramble for position and Shevchenko gets to half-guard and briefly lands some ground-and-pound.
Grasso gives up her back. Final 10 seconds of the round and Shevchenko is trying to set up a rear-naked choke without sucess. Dominant performance from her so far in her bid to win back the title and Grasso goes back to her corner looking frustrated.
Round Four:
Grasso starts the round pumping out the jab. She feels out with a front kick too. More jabs that come off the guard. Shevchenko with punches off the guard too.
Shevchenko ducks into a takedown attempt, but this time Grasso is ready for it and counters with a guillotine choke as she goes to the mat.
It looks quite tight, but shevchenko is landing light punches to the body and trying to stay calm. Grasso rolling with this attempt and puts Shevchenko in even more trouble. Shevchenko rolls enough to still be on top though and is just hanging tough here while landing some more very light body punches.
Grasso’s grip is finally starting to loosen and Shevchenko gets free. shevchenko happy to stay on top in a relatively safe position.
Shevchenko goes for an arm triangle, but Grasso gets out of it quickly. Shevchenko in side control now close to the cage.
Grasso hoping to wall walk, but instead finds herself caught up in the crucifix position. Lucky for her there’s only seconds remaining in the round.
Round Five:
Grasso needs a finish to retain her title as we head into the final five minutes.
Calf kick for Grasso. Inside leg kick from Shevchenko. Another calf kick from Grasso and another inside kick from Shevchenko.
Nice one-two for Shevchenko. Shevchenko tries to get in for a takedown, but Grasso blocks that attempt.
Exchange of punches at close range and then it’s Grasso who tries for a takedown but settles for the clinch.
Grasso with a takedown and trying to immediately get the back and go for a submission, but Shevchenko escapes and gets on top trying to work to the back.
Back upright they go. Shevchenko with a takedown. They get back up quickly with Shevchenko clinching up against the cage.
Body punches from Grasso. Grasso attempts a trip but it doesn’t pay off properly and it’s Shevchenko who ends up on top instead.
Grasso able to work her way back upright against the cage. Grasso gets away. 45 seconds to go. Exchange of punches. Shevchenko tries for the takedown but Grasso stuffs it and they end up in the clinch instead. However Shevchenko continues to pursue the takedown and lands it in the center of the Octagon.
Shevchenko gets to the back in the final 10 seconds and lands punches as Grasso tries to punch back at her.
Decision:
Total domination for Shevchenko here then, from early on when she was getting the better of the striking action, though for the most part it was overpowering Grasso on the mat with her wrestling and steering clear of submmission attempts that leads her to win by unanimous decision (50-45 x3) and win back the flyweight title.
