"Looked like she didn't wanna be there" - Robert Whittaker identifies "wrench in the gears" that ruined Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko decision
Robert Whittaker has given his take on the controversial Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko decision that sent MMA fans into a frenzy.
The historic UFC card on Mexican Independence Day saw the flyweight queen Alexa Grasso walk away with her title. However, she didn't get the win at Noche UFC, as the closely contested bout ended in a highly debatable split draw.
During a recent episode of his MMArcade Podcast, 'The Reaper' talked about the contest. He alluded to Shevchenko’s lack of urgency on the fence as a crucial factor in the judges giving the earlier rounds to Grasso:
"Early in the fight, Grasso had a lot of momentum. And it looked super-well when she had Shevchenko's back on the fence, putting in that work. It looked super dominating. For whatever reason Shevchenko looked off at those points and those moments. It looked like she didn't wanna be there at those moments."
The former middleweight champion was also as surprised with the scoring as any MMA fan.
"The 10-8 round in five is... That's the wrench in the gears. That's the crazy part."
Check out the video below (quotes at 8:56 & 9:27):
Robert Whittaker said the final outcome did not bother him but the last-round scoring from judge Mike Bell was something that needed explanation. He argued the second round, where Grasso dropped 'Bullet', could have been closer to a 10-8 than the fifth.
As for the 125-pound women's champion, a trilogy with 'Bullet' could be next, but contenders like Manon Fiorot and Erin Blanchfield are also waiting in the queue.
Robert Whittaker still eyes the middleweight title
The UFC's 185-pound division has had a lot of movement recently. Sean Strickland, an underdog, got the better of one of the best strikers in the world in Israel Adesanya to win the middleweight title.
Even Robert Whittaker was defeated by Dricus Du Plessis in a major eye-opening performance from the South African.
Whittaker, who wanted to fight Strickland before 'Tarzan' became the champion, now finds himself in a weird spot.
Check out the UFC 293 weigh-ins below:
The No.3-ranked middleweight has already faced everyone in the top five and it's tough to imagine the UFC booking him in a rematch with any of them. The result of Paulo Costa vs. Khamzat Chimaev could potentially determine the next opponent for Whittaker.
The Aussie star could draw either of those two men, depending on how the promotion books the winner. Waiting for the perfect opportunity seems the best Robert Whittaker could do at the moment.