Noche UFC 2023 Results: Alexa Grasso Retains UFC Flyweight Title Via Split Draw With Valentina Shevchenko

Add as a preferred source on Google

Las Vegas, September 17: Alexa Grasso retained the UFC Women's Flyweight title via split draw with Valentina Shevchenko in main event of Noche UFC 2023: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (September 16) night.

The inaugural Noche UFC delivered all the excitement and pageantry expected of a traditional combat sports event held on Mexico's Independence Day, right to the final bell of the championship fight as the 18766 fans in attendance cheered on the home champion.

The 11-bout card saw five fights end in stoppages and five go the distance with one bout ending in No Contest as the main event Grasso vs Shevchenko was awarded the fight of the night, and five other fighters on the card pocketed an extra USD50k as performance bonus.

Raul Rosas Jr., Daniel Zellhuber, Charlie Campbell, Roman Kopylov and Loopy Godinez were all awarded performance bonus for the stoppage wins in their respective bouts. Among the five stoppage wins, three were TKO and two were submissions.

Here is a look at the Noche UFC 2023 recap along with the final results of the Mexican independence day special event that took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas:

Noche UFC 2023 Recap

In the main event, UFC women's flyweight champion Grasso and former champion Shevchenko ran it back in an immediate title rematch after the two met earlier in UFC 285 last year.

In the opening half of a highly competitive fight, Shevchenko managed to execute successful takedowns, while Grasso made a significant knockdown. Shevchenko recovered, and ended the round actively searching for chokes.

As the championship rounds unfolded, Grasso took advantage of a failed takedown, landing powerful knees to Shevchenko's head. Shevchenko showcased her 5-round experience with precise jabs, but a missed takedown allowed Grasso to dominate to the final bell.

It was a split draw (with one judge awarding 10-8 in the fifth) meaning the champ retained her title and said, "Thank you all so much! Viva Mexico! I did a lot of damage and my punches were harder. I'm the winner. I did enough. Let's see what's next!"

Meanwhile, former champion Shevchenko said, "I was expecting a battle and I went through the war to the end. It really was 3-2 on my side, but the judges felt a little bit of pressure because it's Mexican Independence Day, and she's a Mexican fighter."

High level welterweight strikers #13 Kevin Holland and #14 Jack Della Maddalena showed off their beautiful stylistic differences in a co-main event that went the full three rounds.

Holland poured on the punches and kicks, while Della Maddalena used tactics to get inside of the taller man's reach and land combinations with precision to earn the split decision.

After the split decision was read in his favor, Della Maddalena said, "That's what I expected, and he got me talking a little bit. My plan was to come in, be defensive, use my eyes and wait for my shots.

"It's hard to tell in here, but I thought it was close. He ended up on the cage a bit more. Whatever - I'm not a judge. Thanks, for the boos, I appreciate it!"

Also on the main card, Raul Rosas Jr and Daniel Zellhuber claimed stoppage wins in their respective bout against Terrance Mitchell and Christos Giagos, while Kyle Nelson earned a decision win in the opener against Fernando Padilla.

The preliminary card saw, Loopy Godinez, Roman Kopylov and Charlie Campbell claim stoppage wins as Tracy Cortez and Josefine Knutsson earned decision wins, while Edgar Chairez and Daniel Lacerda fought to a no contest. Here is a look at the UFC Noche final results:

Noche UFC 2023 Results

Main Card

1. UFC Women's Flyweight Championship Bout: Alexa Grasso (48-47) and Valentina Shevchenko (48-47) fight to a split draw (47-47)

2. Welterweight Bout: Jack Della Maddalena (29-28, 29-28) defeats Kevin Holland (29-28) by split decision

3. Bantamweight Bout: Raul Rosas Jr defeats Terrance Mitchell by TKO at 0:54 of Round 1

4. Lightweight Bout: Daniel Zellhuber defeats Christos Giagos by submission, anaconda choke, Round 2, 3:26

5. Featherweight Bout: Kyle Nelson (29-28, 29-28, 30-27) defeats Fernando Padilla by unanimous decision

Preliminary Card

1. Women's Strawweight Bout: Loopy Godinez defeats Elise Reed by submission, rear naked choke, Round 2, 3:38

2. Middleweight Bout: Roman Kopylov defeats Josh Fremd by TKO (body shot) at 4:44 of Round 2

3. Flyweight Bout: Edgar Chairez versus Daniel Lacerda declared a no decision at 3:47 of Round 1

4. Women's Flyweight Bout: Tracy Cortez (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) defeats Jasmine Jasudavicius by unanimous decision

5. Lightweight Bout: Charlie Campbell defeats Alex Reyes by TKO (right hand) at 3:38 of Round 1

6. Women's Strawweight Bout: Josefine Knutsson (30-24, 30-25, 30-27) defeats Marnic Mann by unanimous decision