UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and No. 1 ranked contender Valentina Shevchenko once again meet in a high stakes main event
Grasso is
First Mexican woman to win a UFC championship
No. 1 ranked UFC Women’s Pound-for-Pound fighter
Five wins by knockout, two via submission
Five first-round finishes
Holds wins over Valentina Shevchenko, Viviane Araújo, and Maycee Barber
Grasso is
First Mexican woman to win a UFC championship
No. 1 ranked UFC Women’s Pound-for-Pound fighter
Five wins by knockout, two via submission
Five first-round finishes
Holds wins over Valentina Shevchenko, Viviane Araújo, and Maycee Barber
Category
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SportsTranscript
00:00 >> All right, well, I like that.
00:03 >> First of all, Alexa, I mean, the UFC barely does this,
00:06 that they customize belts, and they're doing it for Mexican heritage,
00:10 for your title fight.
00:12 How nice is it to see the UFC focus on your culture and
00:16 on this special date on September 16th?
00:19 >> Well, this is special because as you notice,
00:22 Mexico has been growing so fast and so nice in the sport.
00:28 Honestly, having Mexican champions was a few years ago kind of impossible, so
00:32 it's a big, big motivation for me.
00:35 What Brandon has done, Jair, what has done, Irene, what has done, and
00:39 every single Mexican in the card.
00:41 Right now we have a card in Independence Mexican Day.
00:47 This didn't happen in another country, so
00:48 this is a lot about Mexican support in every single fight.
00:53 >> You almost have to pinch yourself, like is this really happening?
00:56 Cuz as you mentioned, you go back a few years ago and
00:59 this was really hard to imagine, right?
01:01 >> Well, it's been a dream come true, and the most important thing,
01:06 it's full of training, a lot of training,
01:09 a lot of training to be able to be in this moment right now.
01:13 >> Do you think this is the best possible scenario for
01:15 your first title defense, Mexican Independence Day,
01:18 being celebrated Mexican heritage, plus a big rematch,
01:24 maybe one of the biggest fights in the division's history.
01:27 Do you think this is the best case scenario for your first title defense?
01:30 >> Yes, well, I always say that making history is never easy, but
01:34 I've been working so hard every single day of my life to be at this moment.
01:38 And this last camp wasn't different, I was training more,
01:41 I was with more discipline, I was two, three times extremer with my training and
01:48 with everything that has to be done to be the champion again,
01:53 to win the fight again, and I just try to keep focused on the goal.
01:58 >> Yeah, and what's it like to show up in Vegas and seeing your face everywhere?
02:02 Billboards, T-Mobile, magazines, I mean,
02:05 even just covers of tables and everything, what's that been like?
02:09 >> It feels great, it's always, for
02:12 an athlete to achieve all these big, big moments,
02:16 to have in Las Vegas a lot of pictures of yourself, it fills my heart.
02:21 And it just gives me a lot of motivation for this Saturday.
02:26 >> Yeah, and I gotta ask you, you are the last right now Mexican champion.
02:32 Obviously, we saw Jair loses in turn and Brandon loses undisputed.
02:37 I'm wondering if that fuels you even further just to kind of keep the flag at
02:41 a championship level in the UFC pressure,
02:43 how do you feel about your stance right now?
02:46 >> No, I don't think it's called pressure, I think it's more motivation.
02:50 We have done so much in the sport, we've been evolving so, so hard.
02:55 And this keeps me with tons of motivation to keep the belt in Mexico.
03:00 >> Yeah, and lastly, Valentina after your fight mainly said that,
03:06 yeah, gave you some credit, but really emphasized the fact that she felt like she
03:10 made an error in the fight and it was that because what led her to losing the belt.
03:16 I'm curious to your reaction to her responses as to why she lost the belt.
03:21 >> Well, it just kind of surprised for me because someone with such
03:27 big experience and competing at this high, high level.
03:31 We know that there are no accidents.
03:33 I trained for that moment and
03:35 you also can see the video that I have behind the, before the fight.
03:41 I was training exactly that same position.
03:43 So it was something that I trained to win that fight.
03:47 >> Looks over here.
03:48 >> Alexa, last time out you fought Valentina at UFC 285.
03:52 Both of you had loud ovations inside the arena, but
03:55 there's a good chance that you steal all of that this Saturday, right?
03:58 How is it like and how eager are you knowing that you're gonna fight in front
04:01 of a home crowd that's most likely gonna be 100% Alexa Grasso on Saturday night?
04:05 >> Well, I hope, she's very famous too.
04:09 People love both of us, which is beautiful to have a lot of people
04:13 cheering for both athletes in such big event, such main event.
04:17 So it's gonna be huge.
04:18 I'm truly thankful for every single person that has the time to come to the event
04:22 that will be there with their flags and cheering for Mexico.
04:27 >> And one of your teammates is here, Diego Lopez.
04:29 What's it like for you seeing him debut in the UFC and
04:31 putting up those great performances he has thus far?
04:34 >> Well, I've seen his career for a long time.
04:38 We had a tough moments before getting in the UFC.
04:42 I know what he's capable of.
04:43 He's doing great and I think you're looking his evolution.
04:49 And of course, my evolution in my jujitsu game, it's thanks for him.
04:54 >> [FOREIGN]
05:11 >> Obviously, first of all, the first ever event,
05:15 Mexican Independence Day for the UFC.
05:17 And also, Dana White mentioned that they talk about the PI in Mexico right now.
05:22 So how do you see the advancement of being the undisputed Mexican champion right now?
05:28 How do you see the advancement of MMA in Mexico?
05:30 >> [FOREIGN]
05:40 >> [FOREIGN]
05:50 >> [FOREIGN]
06:00 >> We have so many worries right there.
06:14 We always go to war.
06:15 I mean, everybody knows that when a Mexican steps onto the octagon,
06:18 that's what we're gonna give.
06:19 We're gonna leave it all out there.
06:20 And that speaks volumes for them.
06:22 It speaks for the results that we've achieved.
06:24 And I think that with all the help, with the PI, with nutrition,
06:28 with physical therapy, with all the training,
06:30 I think that you're gonna see even more coming up.
06:32 >> [FOREIGN]
06:45 >> And of course, being in a Mexican Independence Day and so
06:49 much focus on Mexico, your opponent too represents Peru.
06:52 So what do you think about two women representing Latin America to be in such
06:57 a high stage?
06:58 >> [FOREIGN]
07:08 >> It's so awesome.
07:20 It's just such a big thing.
07:21 I mean, I think this is the sport that women have evolved the most and
07:24 quickest and to the highest level of any other sport.
07:28 If you think about it, we're main cards, we're co-mains.
07:32 And it's just to see us in a situation, it's just a very exciting.
07:37 And we actually, very exciting fights as well.
07:39 So I'm very happy to have them.
07:41 Gracias.
07:42 >> Alexa, Willie Ramirez with the Associated Press.
07:45 You hear professional athletes always say,
07:47 you only get too high with the highs, too low with the lows.
07:50 Six months into being the champion, how have you tried to maintain a level of
07:56 hunger that you had before becoming a champion?
08:00 And sort of not letting that desire get away from you, not get too high on this
08:04 high, and maintain the same level of competitiveness and
08:09 drive that you had when you were a challenger?
08:11 >> Well, this is thanks to my team, my coaches.
08:15 They are always trying for me to always be focused.
08:21 You know, like, yeah, you're the champion, but you're just one more in the gym.
08:26 You have to help your teammates, you have to evolve,
08:28 you have to be every day here on time.
08:30 You do everything that we ask you to do and more.
08:35 So I think the most important thing to be at this high level and
08:40 to keep motivating and to keep the hunger and to do my best to evolve and
08:45 to improve, it's thanks to my team and my coaches.
08:49 >> I'm not sure how much you pay attention to other sports,
08:51 especially when you're training for a big card like this.
08:54 But we're coming off the US Open, Coco Gauff wins, right?
08:58 The WNBA playoffs get started tonight, including here in Las Vegas.
09:02 We have two incredible martial artists, if you will,
09:07 getting ready for Saturday night.
09:09 What does it feel like just to see the evolution of women athletes right now and
09:14 you being a part of sort of the spotlight?
09:17 >> For me, it's huge.
09:18 Like I said, of course, women started always after men in every single sport.
09:24 But right now we're looking how much we are evolving.
09:28 Our technique is better, our heart is better.
09:31 We're a main event right now for Mexico, so this is huge for us.
09:36 So it's really nice to be part of these elite athletes that are representing
09:41 their country, their sport, their city, and in every single sport we are competing.
09:48 >> Great, thank you.
09:49 >> Hey, Alexa, over here in the front.
09:50 I noticed just a few minutes ago, you and Valentina were in the lobby together.
09:55 Have you guys spoken at all?
09:57 Has there been conversation since the last fight between the two of you?
10:00 >> No, no, we always say hi for respect.
10:03 We have respect for each other, but no, we didn't have a chat.
10:08 >> Is that something that you purposely avoid having conversations with your
10:12 opponents and maybe wait till after?
10:14 Or is it just that it hasn't happened yet?
10:16 >> No, it hasn't happened yet.
10:18 >> Thank you.
10:19 >> Alexa, right over here.
10:20 Felicidades.
10:23 >> Gracias.
10:25 >> Big fights happening at Flyweight.
10:26 I was just wondering, what did you think of the victories for
10:29 both Aaron Blanchfield and Manon Fior?
10:32 >> Well, I'm super happy of Flyweight division.
10:35 This was the last weight class in the organization.
10:41 Now we are giving a lot of results.
10:44 Now we are having a lot of great athletes.
10:47 I think they both have a great winning, and I'm happy for the division.
10:52 >> Do you care who would be the next title challenger?
10:54 >> I mean, right now I'm focused on my fight this Saturday, but after,
11:01 if everything goes like my plan, maybe on Saturday now we can talk about that.
11:07 >> I know it's not a competition, but do you think that your special belt is better
11:12 than Yair's that he got earlier this summer?
11:14 >> No, it's made for the same person.
11:18 I know them.
11:19 I've been in this place where they do these pieces of art.
11:24 So it's just another piece of art, and it's beautiful, and I'm just happy.
11:30 I think each one of them has their special meaning,
11:33 because every single patron in there has different expressions.
11:39 >> Final question, you've been in the UFC for a long time now.
11:42 You've been a part of a lot of other stuff, the posters and
11:45 everything that they make.
11:46 The fans really like the poster for this fight.
11:49 I'm wondering, is this your favorite also,
11:51 because it's got a lot of the Mexican influence in it and everything?
11:55 >> Well, I think it has a lot of Mexican things,
12:00 because of the importance of the date, of the people who's fighting in the card.
12:04 So it has a lot of personality of every single Mexican fighter.
12:09 So for me, yes, this is the best one.
12:13 >> Thank you.
12:14 >> Alexa, right here, to your left.
12:16 Your influence is evident through you being on the cover of GQ for Mexico.
12:21 You're headlining this event.
12:23 For you, in looking at younger generations, not only in Mexico, but
12:27 all around for MMA and women athletes,
12:30 what is your message to the younger generations?
12:33 >> Well, that's always my goal.
12:36 I've been always trying to be a good example for the next generation,
12:40 especially for the girls.
12:41 I would like them to see me as a guide.
12:44 Of course, I'm not perfect, but I would like that with my example,
12:49 they can notice that you can live working every single day doing what you love the most.
12:55 You can change your life, you can have a better life, a better quality life,
12:59 food, experiences.
13:00 So working hard and
13:03 do your hard work has always been my hashtag.
13:07 And I just hope that every single girl in the planet could learn MMA,
13:11 defend themselves and be strong, physical and mentally.
13:14 >> Segueing from your hard work going into the Octagon, last fight,
13:18 it went your way, you got a lot of things done and did the right way.
13:21 For you, what are you trying to replicate and
13:22 add on to to get your hand raised on Saturday?
13:25 >> Well, of course, I love striking fights.
13:29 And it was going pretty well on the striking department, but
13:33 I did a lot of adjustment just in case she don't want to strike with me.
13:37 But I'm excited too because she came back to Thailand to do Muay Thai again.
13:43 So this excites me so much and I'm pretty sure it's gonna be an amazing fight.
13:48 >> Awesome, thank you.
13:49 >> Thanks. >> Alexa right here.
13:50 Six months ago, you shocked the world.
13:53 Not a lot of people gave you a chance to be Valentina Shcherchenko to become
13:56 champion.
13:57 Last week, nobody gave Shawn Strickland a chance to be Israel Adesanya and
14:00 he did the same.
14:02 Did you see a lot of yourself in what Shawn did last week?
14:05 Because everybody counted him out, everybody counted you out.
14:08 And he emerged victorious and you did the same thing.
14:10 >> Well, it's a tricky moment.
14:14 When you have all the doubts, when you have everything against you,
14:20 I think that motivates you.
14:22 I think that says you're like, why are all these people thinking that I'm not capable?
14:29 If they don't know me, if they really aren't too deep in what I'm doing,
14:35 in my training, I'm super disciplined.
14:37 And I'm pretty sure that he did that.
14:41 When you have a lot of doubts, it just motivates you a lot to give your best and
14:45 to show like, hey, I'm capable and I'm here and I will earn it.
14:50 >> Do you still think you have something to prove on Saturday night,
14:53 even though you are the champion?
14:54 A lot of people think Valentina had a bad night.
14:56 Are you here to prove that it wasn't a bad night, it was about your preparation?
15:00 >> Of course, having to be the champion is the first step.
15:04 Like climbing the first mountain.
15:07 But once I have it, and I just turn my head and
15:10 I just realize there's another big mountain to climb because I want to defend it.
15:15 I wanted to keep it.
15:17 I want to show how much I've been evolving all these months.
15:21 >> Last question for me.
15:22 Valentina is on the cover of the EAUFC game.
15:26 If you win and defend this title, do you wanna state the case that they made
15:31 a mistake and that you should have been on the cover of the game?
15:33 >> No, I don't think they made a mistake.
15:35 We can't forget about everything she has done for the sport.
15:38 She's a big, big star.
15:41 It's not like just a win quits you all the credit you have done.
15:44 Just right now, I have to earn that.
15:46 I have to have a lot of title defenses.
15:49 And then after, I would hope that I can have my face in the cover of the game.
15:53 >> Alexa in the middle.
15:56 Traditionally, Mexican Independence Day weekend had belonged to Canelo.
16:00 And most recently, he had headlined multiple cards at T-Mobile.
16:04 Have you had any conversations with his camp yet?
16:07 Have they reached out to at least congratulate you?
16:09 >> No, not yet.
16:11 I'm not, he's super huge.
16:14 He's someone that I admire so much.
16:17 We're from the same city.
16:18 But I hope that with my achievements and
16:21 be winning someday I could have a training with him.
16:24 [LAUGH] >> As a follow up to that question,
16:28 do you allow yourself to have these moments sink in and
16:32 actually celebrate what you've achieved?
16:35 Because there's always something more.
16:37 You're in a rematch.
16:38 But do you just allow yourself to have the moments to appreciate what has happened so
16:42 far for you?
16:43 >> As an elite athlete in combat sports, we know that we don't have much time.
16:53 So right now, I'm celebrating coming back to the gym as soon as possible
16:57 to do rehabilitation, to heal all my injuries, and
17:02 come back the best way I can to the gym.
17:04 So that's how I celebrate because I don't know how many years I have left in the sport.
17:09 I also have 30 years old right now, so
17:13 I'm just trying to do the best I can with the years I have.
17:16 So the best way to do it is training, doing my best.
17:19 And then I will have the time enough to enjoy and celebrate and
17:24 do everything I want.
17:27 >> Alexa, back here.
17:28 This is your first rematch, and I'm just kind of curious.
17:31 Has there been a difference in your confidence going into this one knowing
17:34 that you can beat Valentina?
17:35 >> Well, of course.
17:37 We also shared the octagon 20 minutes before.
17:41 I know what she has.
17:43 I felt her body, I felt her power.
17:44 I felt everything that she can bring to the table.
17:47 And that's why I prepared myself better.
17:51 I did a lot of adjustments.
17:52 My coaches did a lot of adjustments.
17:54 So I know what I'm capable of, and I'll do my best to win again.
18:00 >> And just kind of touching on those adjustments a little bit,
18:02 obviously you did very well in the striking against her.
18:04 And maybe she did better on the ground than in the striking against you.
18:09 And so I'm curious how big of a focus was takedown and
18:12 grappling defense in this camp particularly?
18:14 >> A lot, a lot.
18:15 Of course, striking is number one, always.
18:19 And jujitsu and wrestling game is always improving,
18:23 always improving, always improving.
18:25 And this wasn't different.
18:27 There are a lot of adjustments in the jiu-jitsu department.
18:31 >> Definitely, and I know you're obviously focused on this one, but
18:34 you got this great achievement now becoming a champion.
18:37 I'm curious if you look ahead at all and think about what's the next big goal?
18:40 Like you said, you wanna defend and do these things.
18:42 But do you think about becoming a double champ or anything crazy extravagant for
18:46 the next big kind of mountain to climb after this fight?
18:50 >> No, right now I'm focused just on 125.
18:53 I want to have the most title defenses I can do.
18:57 >> All right, best of luck.
18:58 >> Thanks. >> Alexa Becker in the back here.
19:00 I was just kind of curious, it's been 19 years since Ronda Rousey made her UFC
19:05 debut and she's done so many wonderful things for the sport.
19:08 And becoming a champion and so forth.
19:10 I'm kind of wondering through the years as you see the fighters today,
19:13 how those skill sets have kind of changed among the fighters from then to today.
19:21 >> Well, we've seen a lot of changes.
19:23 The rules are different.
19:25 I think that before it was more noticed when you had a striker versus a grappler.
19:32 Or a wrestler versus karate.
19:35 Right now we have everything.
19:37 It's not just one game plan.
19:39 Now we have complete athletes.
19:41 I think that's the most important difference now we have.
19:44 >> [FOREIGN]
19:54 >> Since you became a champion, obviously a lot of things have changed in your life.
20:09 But we want to know what has changed in your life besides the fact that everything
20:12 that you do is on camera right now, everything is the same.
20:14 But can you tell us a story about people that were with you along the way,
20:19 people that came to you after you became a champion.
20:21 So what has changed in your life and a story you can tell us?
20:24 >> [FOREIGN]
20:34 >> [FOREIGN]
20:44 >> [FOREIGN]
20:54 >> In reality, my life hasn't changed much.
21:09 I mean, I've been the same constant person, same thing at the gym.
21:13 I mean, it's the formula that brought me here to help me achieve what I got to.
21:17 So I'm there training as much as I can, training three times a day,
21:22 every day, every week throughout the entire year.
21:25 So I mean, you become a champion,
21:28 you continue to do that to maintain yourself and to keep where you are.
21:31 But also it's so beautiful to actually see people.
21:33 There are people that came to me and said, I doubt it,
21:35 I thought you were going to lose, but you won there and you won.
21:39 And I mean, my mind has changed.
21:41 And some people say, I made money off of you.
21:43 So it's so awesome to see that I was able to actually get the recognition and
21:48 to conquer these people and just conquer their hearts and say, listen,
21:51 I was able to change their perception.
21:53 >> [FOREIGN]
22:03 >> And last question for me,
22:15 how easy or how hard is it for you to continue with that consistency?
22:20 How can you separate Alexa the fighter with Alexa the personality,
22:24 the star that's out there and has her obligations?
22:28 >> [FOREIGN]
22:38 >> And that's a cool thing about my team.
23:05 My team is there to remind me that I need to continue to be that simple life.
23:10 You're here, they keep me focused, you're going to continue to do what you did.
23:15 You're a high performance athlete now.
23:17 You have to be in the gym at all times.
23:21 You have to be with us all the way.
23:23 So the team has been able to keep me focused on the task at hand.
23:27 >> [FOREIGN]
23:37 >> Crosh, if you're in Spanish,
23:41 what did you think of this belt now that you've been able to actually see it?
23:43 >> [FOREIGN]
23:53 >> I had never seen it in person,
24:00 I only saw it in pictures.
24:06 Then I really wanted to actually ask the artists about the patterns that you
24:12 see here because they're so beautiful.
24:18 I mean, I wanted to ask after the fight, but I really want to know what each of
24:23 those patterns mean, but it's so beautiful.
24:25 I mean, it's really, it's amazing.
24:28 Each and every single one of them, I know it's made by hand, so
24:31 it's truly a beautiful work of art, and I love it, love it.
24:37 >> [FOREIGN]
24:41 >> And of course,
24:42 the pride of seeing all the colors of your culture in a UFC belt.
24:47 >> [FOREIGN]
24:57 >> Raised me a lot of emotion, of course, very heavy.
25:02 And as I said, I mean, this speaks for everything as Mexico's been doing and
25:06 for what have we accomplished in bringing here, and
25:09 I mean, the worth of all Mexicans in MMA.
25:12 >> [FOREIGN]
25:22 >> And of course, the first ever event on Mexican Independence Day for the UFC.
25:35 Do you think that Mexico has gotten to a point right now, the amount of talent,
25:39 the amount of recognition that it deserves,
25:40 that you should have this as a consistent and constant event every year?
25:44 >> [FOREIGN]
25:47 >> That's the goal.
25:47 >> [FOREIGN]
25:57 >> You mentioned Canelo, Canelo has fought in Guadalajara.
25:59 I imagine that's a dream of yours to actually fight in Guadalajara?
26:01 >> [FOREIGN]
26:10 >> Of course, and I think one of my goals is actually to continue to get to improve,
26:14 get better, to one day bring the UFC to Guadalajara.
26:16 >> [FOREIGN]
26:19 >> [FOREIGN]