Exclusive: Miranda Maverick explains why Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 3 is not needed: "Trilogy fights are boring"
Miranda Maverick has addressed the potential Alexa Grasso-Valentina Shevchenko trilogy fight. Maverick alluded that Grasso and Shevchenko have faced one another twice in succession. The American MMA stalwart suggested that their third matchup shouldn't follow immediately, as there are more interesting options out there.
Their first encounter witnessed Grasso defeat Shevchenko via fourth-round submission at UFC 285 (March 2023), dethroning the longtime champion to become the new UFC women's flyweight titleholder. An immediate rematch ensued, and Mexico's Grasso defended her belt with a split draw against the Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian Shevchenko at the first-ever Noche UFC event (Sept. 2023).
For the past several months, the consensus has been that before Grasso or Shevchenko could fight anyone else, the two rival TUF 32 coaches will do battle in a trilogy showdown. The belief is that they could clash at the upcoming UFC 306 event, rebranded as Riyadh Season Noche UFC, which will take place at the Las Vegas Sphere on Sept. 14, 2024.
The Noche UFC events are marked by a Mexican Independence Day theme. Moreover, UFC CEO Dana White has consistently maintained that the organization's top fighters of Mexican descent will be booked to compete at the event. Ergo, Grasso's next fight is expected to take place at Riyadh Season Noche UFC.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda MMA, Miranda Maverick has indicated that the No. 2-ranked flyweight contender Manon Fiorot, rather than the No. 1-ranked Valentina Shevchenko, should be booked to fight Alexa Grasso for the title next.
She believes that the Grasso-Fiorot winner could then face Shevchenko, and the division could move ahead from there. The 27-year-old UFC women's flyweight contender stated:
"I am not for the trilogy fight. I think trilogy fights are boring... I think Manon [Fiorot] should be thrown in there ASAP. I don't think there should be a fight [between] Alexa and Valentina again. I think it should Alexa Grasso vs. Manon and see who wins that and they fight Valentina and we go from there."
Maverick added:
"[The trilogy] stagnates it. It makes it not as interesting anymore... That's happened now twice already. Let's see a third one later when they've both fought other contenders. Mix it up."
Presently, Maverick is scheduled to fight Dione Barbosa in a flyweight bout at UFC Vegas 94 on July 20, 2024.
Alexa Grasso on potential alternative to trilogy against Valentina Shevchenko at Riyadh Season Noche UFC
Earlier this year, Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko gave contrasting accounts regarding the upcoming Noche UFC event. Shevchenko implied that she'd heard the event wouldn't have a Mexican Independence Day theme and its focal theme would be the one-of-a-kind Sphere venue, whereas Grasso later disputed the claim.
Speculation has abounded that 'Bullet' may be uninterested in facing her Mexican opponent at the Mexican-themed event this year, given that they fought at Noche UFC last year too.
UFC CEO Dana White has confirmed that the event would be the greatest "love letter to the Mexican people." John Morgan reported last month that per Alexa Grasso, if her trilogy fight against Valentina Shevchenko doesn't materialize at the event, she'd be open to defending her championship against Manon Fiorot instead.
Furthermore, Ariel Helwani recently asserted that the UFC's plans for the event at the Sphere include Alexa Grasso.