Valentina Shevchenko: ‘I’m going to remind people who I am’

Valentina Shevchenko has her rematch against Alexa Grasso this Saturday at Noche UFC

SI’s MMA Notes, Quotes, and Anecdotes runs every Monday.

Nine fighters have won world titles this year in the UFC.

Valentina Shevchenko would like that number to reach double digits.

Shevchenko challenges women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso this Saturday at Noche UFC, the fight card scheduled for Mexican Independence Day. Dana White had a new custom championship belt created for Grasso, who is representing her native Mexico in the bout.

This is the new belt that will be presented to @AlexaGrasso for #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/ZI4rmaOYHs

— danawhite (@danawhite) September 6, 2023

A victory for Grasso would be a remarkable moment for the UFC. That will mean there is a new star of the division in Grasso, as well as the breaking of new ground on the UFC Performance Institute in Mexico.

But Shevchenko is here to spoil the party.

“I’m going to remind people who I am,” said Shevchenko. “I think a lot of people have forgot.”

Shevchenko (23-4) was defeated by Grasso in March at UFC 285, ending a nine-fight win streak. She tapped out to a face crank in the fourth round, but until then, Shevchenko was in position to win. After two competitive rounds, Shevchenko timed out Grasso’s offense and controlled the third. But she made a critical mistake in the fourth, missing a spinning back kick, which allowed Grasso to seize control of her neck.

“People aren’t rewatching the fight, they’re just watching the finish,” said Shevchenko. “I was winning that fight. Now I have a chance to fix my mistakes and show what I was supposed to do the first time.”

The rematch is Shevchenko’s chance to prove that the flyweight division still belongs solely to her. A victory will highlight that the loss was merely a fluke, and Shevchenko can resume her place as champion.

“For me, there is no other focus,” said Shevchenko. “I live only for this. That’s my mindset. All my training camp, and every day, all my energy is going into my performance on Saturday. That is all I have on my mind.”

Grasso (16-3) has won five in a row. Five years younger than Shevchenko, the 30-year-old Grasso wants to start a lengthy, memorable title run.

Grasso’s striking makes her a legitimate threat, as does her jiu-jitsu. Shevchenko, however, is determined to regain the belt and avoid the pitfall of a second straight loss to Grasso.

“Being the champ for me, it’s knowing you’re the best,” said Shevchenko. “I know who I am. I know what I’m worth and how strong I am and how dangerous I can be. I will show all of that on Saturday.

“I’m not even close to finishing my career. It is important for me to keep my legacy as champion.”