Author: Chandra Moulee Das
Valentina Shevchenko (KYRGYZSTAN) vs. Alexa Grasso (MEXICO)
Mexican fighter Alexa Grasso marked her country’s Independence Day by successfully defending her UFC flyweight title in a rare split draw against former champion Valentina Shevchenko on Saturday. Grasso, who had already defeated Shevchenko by submission in March to win the title, was the main attraction on the card at the T-Mobile Arena during the UFC 227 event. This event had a significant Mexican influence, as it coincided with September 16, the day on which Mexicans celebrate their independence.
Both fighters showed their skills during the five five-minute rounds, but neither managed to secure a decisive victory. The judges’ scorecards showed an unexpected result, with one judge awarding victory to Grasso, another to Shevchenko and the third declaring a draw. As a result, Grasso retained his title.
Shevchenko expressed her conviction that she had won the fight with a three to two round lead and speculated that the Mexican’s celebration could have influenced the score.
Given the highly contested nature of the fight, fans have already begun to advocate a third showdown between the two fighters. However, Grasso was non-committal when asked about this possibility.
Edgar Chairez (MEXICO) VS Daniel Lacerda (BRAZIL).
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The flyweight fight between Lacerda and Chairez was considered a no contest. This decision was the result of referee Chris Tognoni’s mistaken belief that Lacerda had been knocked unconscious by Chairez and prematurely stopped the fight.
Chairez trapped Lacerda in a standing guillotine against the cage. While Lacerda seemed to lose consciousness for a brief moment, Tognoni intervened without fully assessing the situation. Lacerda promptly contested the decision.
Subsequently, the video replay was used by the referees in the ring, determining that Tognoni’s decision was incorrect and ultimately rendering the fight without result. Both flyweight fighters expressed their frustration at the unexpected ending.