MMA fans around the world tuned in with anticipation to witness the highly-anticipated rematch between UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and challenger Valentina Shevchenko at Noche UFC.
Among those closely following the bout was none other than Conor McGregor, who expressed his delight with the intense showdown.
Grasso and Shevchenko had a storied history, with Grasso submitting Shevchenko last year to claim the 125lb belt.
Their rematch at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas lived up to the hype, delivering five rounds of back-and-forth action that kept fans on the edge of their seats. However, it was the outcome that stirred controversy.
The fight concluded with a split draw decision, as reflected by the 48-47, 47-48, and 47-47 scorecards from the cageside judges. Alexa Grasso retained her title, but the verdict left fans divided.
McGregor’s Reaction and Controversy on Social Media
Conor McGregor, an avid MMA enthusiast, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the fight, hailing it as “an absolute corker of a fight” and praising it as an all-time classic in women’s mixed martial arts (WMMA).
McGregor didn’t shy away from suggesting the possibility of a trilogy fight between Grasso and Shevchenko, emphasizing his excitement with the outcome.
He tweeted: “An absolute corker of a fight! All-timer in WMMA [in my opinion]. And it ends in a draw! Wow, wow, wow! Well done Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko! Incredible! Fair draw. Valentina unlucky for sure but a draw is fair in my opinion, run it back. Viva Mexico!”
While McGregor found the result fair, not everyone shared his sentiment. Social media was abuzz with fans and pundits voicing their disagreement with the judges’ decision. Criticism was particularly directed at Judge Mike Bell for scoring the final round 10-8 in favor of Grasso.
Many took to Twitter to express their views, with one person declaring, “She got robbed; it was 48-47 Shevchenko.” Others echoed the sentiment, claiming that Shevchenko had been hard done by.
Shevchenko’s Post-Fight Comments and the Potential for a Trilogy
In her post-fight comments, Shevchenko expressed her belief that the contest was scored 3-2 in her favor. She hinted at the influence of Mexican Independence Day on the judges’ decision, suggesting they may have favored the Mexican fighter.
With the debate still raging on the outcome, it appears that a third showdown between Grasso and Shevchenko may be the only way to settle the score definitively. Should that occur, you can be sure Conor McGregor will be eagerly tuning in once again to witness the culmination of this compelling rivalry.
