Alexa Grasso Loses Backing of 2 Ex-UFC Champs Ahead of Critical UFC 315 Fight

UFC 315 has one of the most thrilling fights coming up between former flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and rising contender Natalia Silva. For two whole years, Grasso only prepared and thought of destroying Valentina Shevchenko, but not anymore. She defeated Shevchenko twice, and the third time, unfortunately, lost her belt to her. However, even though Grasso is not a champ anymore, she is ready for her next chapter.

“It’s good to have a new opponent,” Grasso said at UFC 315 media pre fight presser. “It’s a great challenge. She has a background in taekwondo. She kicks a lot and she moves a lot, so I think it’s going to be a super exciting fight. She shines with her legs, I shine with my hands, so it will be a beautiful war.”

The two ex-UFC champions favoured 18-5-1 Silva with 6 back-to-back wins in UFC right now rather than favouring former champ 16-4-1 Grasso. During their latest Pound 4 Pound episode, Henry Cejudo said to Kamaru Usman, “She cannot allow Alexa to get close if she allows Alexa to get close, Alexa can put her out. Alexa’s got heavy, heavy hands, man. I could work with both of these girls, but I can honestly say, man, like the one that’s coming in, that is right there, man. If she does not allow pressure or anything else to get to her, I can see Silva getting the decision. I really can, man, I think she kicks what she can do when she is scrappy. She moves a lot. She’s got a very taekwondo style where it’s just very difficult, but besides the taekwondo, she does produce power.”

September 12, 2024, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA: ALEXA GRASSO speaks to the crowd during the fight week press conference, PK, Pressekonferenz for UFC 306 at Riyadh Season Noche UFC at the Sphere in Las Vegas. UFC 306 Press Conference PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxONLY – ZUMAyadh 20240912_int_s346_008 Copyright: xAlejandroxSalazarx

Usman chimed in saying that both of them have good fight IQ and it was a “tough one”. In the end, both the ex-champs went with Silva since to beat her, Usman said that the opponent has to possess “aggressive wrestling” to get her down and control her inside the cage.

The Brazilian star is known for her strong striking, especially her kicking arsenal, and the #5 flyweight has 91% takedown defence, which is incredible. On the other hand, Grasso is a high-volume striker with good clinchwork. The BJJ purple belt has a 54% takedown defence that might not be lucrative for her in this fight.

Let’s see who the 31-year-old trains with and how she is preparing to face the 28-year-old.

Alexa Grasso’s training before UFC 315

The Mexican star has defeated a powerhouse like Valentina Shevchenko not one but twice, so clearly she has an amazing fight arsenal and training regimen. The 31-year-old is the first and only Mexican woman UFC champion to date. She is also only the third UFC women’s flyweight champion in the promotion’s history. 

This is a huge achievement, and this is not even her whole resume.  Grasso made her debut in 2016 in the UFC and went 5-0-1 after moving to flyweight. In 2023, defeated Valentina Shevchenko to win the flyweight title via submission. These achievements at the highest level establish her credibility as a great fighter with an elite training team behind her. 

She gives most of the credit for her fighting prowess to her father, Francisco Grasso. He is popularly known by his nickname ‘Pancho’ and has transformed many fighters hailing from Mexico. She sharpens her fight arsenal at the  Lobo Gym in Guadalajara, Mexico. She has trained with the likes of  Irene Aldana and Diego Lopes before. This time, Grasso is fighting against 2-1 favourite Silva, while she is the unexpected underdog going into UFC 315.

“It’s always like climbing a new mountain,” she said during the presser. “You get to the top and you realize there’s another one and another one. It’s good to be a contender again, to try to fight for that place. I’m just training super hard.” So will she prove again why she is invincible? Please tell us what you think!

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