Valentina Shevchenko bursts out laughing in reaction to Alexa Grasso advice to be more aggressive: "I don't have to play someone's game"
Valentina Shevchenko recently responded to Alexa Grasso's assessment of her fighting style in a lighthearted manner. This happened after Grasso called attention to the fact that Shevchenko needed to be more aggressive to regain her title and cited errors made by 'Bullet' in her previous fights.
Grasso will defend her flyweight belt for the second time against Shevchenko in the co-main event of Noche UFC 306 on Sep. 14 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
In an interview with MMA Junkie ahead of Noche UFC 306, Grasso asserted that Shevchenko had a backward-heavy fighting style and talked about what the 36-year-old needed to do to regain her title. She also voiced her opinion in response to Grasso's assertion regarding her fighting technique, saying (via MMA Junkie):
''So she is planning to secure her victory, she is not planning to go forward? This is what she [Grasso] said? So she’s going to be on her side of the octagon expecting me to be on my side? That’s hilarious. Oh my God...I’m just going to bring my spirit. I’m going to bring my power and my speed and I’m going to bring my experience to the fight. The No. 1 goal what I have to do in this fight is be myself. I don’t have to play someone’s game.''
Check out Valentina Shevchenko's comments below:
During their first encounter at UFC 285 in March last year, Grasso captured the UFC women's flyweight title from Shevchenko via fourth-round submission. The Mexican successfully defended her title via a split draw in their rematch at the inaugural Noche UFC event in September of last year.
Valentina Shevchenko discusses her relationship with Alexa Grasso
In addition to their encounters in the octagon, Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso were opposing coaches on Season 32 of 'The Ultimate Fighter' this year. Through regular preparation and engagement in the reality program, they got to know each other's personalities.
As previously stated in her interview with MMA Junkie, Grasso indicated that the duo share an unusual relationship. Shevchenko gave her thoughts on this in her aforementioned interview with MMA Junkie, saying:
“I would say yes, definitely. We could make a record of times, of faceoff times in all of history of the UFC. So many faceoffs, and I don’t say that like it was weird. For me, it was kind of normal. Everything we have to do inside the octagon, it’s inside the octagon. Outside, I respect all of my opponents every time, I have respect for all of them.'' [H/t: BJ Penn]