It is the dream of every professional athlete to be considered the best of all time in their respective sport. Even before they make it big and start earning big money from their athletic prowess, they fantasize about winning trophies and slowly but surely establishing themselves as one of the best. Of course, there can only be one GOAT, the greatest of all time, per sport. That is until someone better shows up eventually and takes over. This is how the famous GOAT debate became popular where fans, and the athletes themselves, discuss who is the absolute best in a sport.
However, it usually finishes with a few of them sharing that prestigious, unofficial moniker of the greatest of all time and they are dubbed “one of the GOATs”. In UFC, this is very difficult to pinpoint because of the many divisions and the fact that numerous fighters have been so dominant for extended periods. It is impossible to figure out who the best is overall due to the differences in weight categories, meaning there can be one for each category, for men and women.
In this article, we discuss one of the potentially greatest female fighters of all time in the Flyweight division, Alexa Grasso. She recently took part in an exclusive interview with Stake.com due to her upcoming fight at the UFC 306 versus Valentina Shevchenko. She talked about this very topic, among many other things. If you are a fan of mixed martial arts and Ultimate Fighting Championship, this is definitely something you must not miss.
What Was the Interview About?
So what was the interview about and what did the interviewer ask her? More importantly, what else did the Mexican fighter have to say? Well, first of all, the reason for the interview is the September 14 UFC 306: Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvarishvili special event at the famous Sphere in Las Vegas. It is the first time a UFC event is taking place there and it is bound to be an absolute spectacle. In addition to this milestone, this is the second time UFC is celebrating Mexican heritage as it will double as a celebration of Mexican Independence Day.
The first time around, it was also Grasso vs. Shevchenko, their second fight overall, on September 16, 2023. That match, where Grasso defended the title and Shevchenko attempted to regain it, ended in a split draw. In their third match, the former champion will attempt to once again get her hands on the Flyweight title belt after losing it in March of 2023 in her first matchup against Alexa. The third match is shaping up to be one for the ages.
Grasso is also the UFC ambassador of Stake and therefore the perfect person to give an exclusive interview for the popular sports betting and gambling online platform. Apart from being a fighter, she is also a broadcaster analyst for UFC Espana where she shares her predictions and comments about fights. It is a great insight into the mind of an active fighter and a treasure trove for sports bettors who like wagering on MMA and UFC.
What Did Alexa Grasso Say Exactly?
Now that you know about the interview and the reasons behind it, let us discuss what she said. Regarding the GOAT debate, the interviewer asked her whether or not she should be considered the best female Flyweight fighter of all time if she manages to beat Shevchenko again and escape a loss for the third time, keeping the title.
As a true sportsperson, champion, and humble athlete, she declined to comment directly, which is common. It is, after all, for others to have those conversations. Promoting oneself like that and saying “I’m the best” does not make it true. Others have to say it for it to matter. She simply commented, "I'm not the one who chooses that title, but to be the greatest is the goal." With an answer like this, her GOAT aspirations are clearly visible and we are glad they are. Why should she claim any different when she truly does want to be remembered as the best, or at least one of the best, in her respective division?
This is not everything the interview goes over, of course. With her next fight against Shevchenko approaching quickly, it was the focus of a large chunk of the talk. She was asked about how she viewed the fight the first time around and to share her thoughts on her rivalry with the former champion, whom she stripped of her title last year. Grasso shared an interesting story from the beginning of her Flyweight career, saying, "Even when I was [...] in the flyweight division, Valentina Shevchenko was always the goal." We can see that even before she ever got the chance to fight her, Grasso eagerly wanted the matchup.
The long-awaited showdown finally took place and she beat Valentina to win her first championship. Not only that, but she managed to retain the title following their second meeting, a split draw. This was another topic of conversation as the interviewer wanted to know whether or not Alexa agreed with the draw decision. “I thought I won the match,” she said, adding, “I also scored the knockdown, but [...] it is up to the judges.” She gave a short insight into the next match when she finished saying that she has to “[...] work harder and not leave it to the judges.”
The upcoming match is sure to be a rough one for both. Grasso also shared some things about the relationship she has with her rival, and what the fans can expect in their 3rd fight: "We are both very professional [...]. The day of the fight will be different [...] we are going to kill each other." For sports bettors, this is very important bit of information. Make sure to check Stake UFC predictions and evaluate the odds before the match. First-hand comments from the athletes can sometimes cause the bookmakers to shake things up a bit and change the odds!
Further Noteworthy Comments
The fact that Mexico is being honored again and that she is the first woman from the country to win a UFC title means a lot to Grasso. She knows how beloved she is among her home country fans and cherishes the role of a role model for the next generation of Mexican fighters. Thanks to her, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, a martial art she holds a brown belt and one that is synonymous with her fighting style, is on the rise in Mexico. Such growth, together with the increased popularity of MMA among women, are great things and she agrees: "Right now Jiu-Jitsu tournaments are full [...]. Some even have main events fights which feature women." She knows full well that she is one of the biggest reasons why!
Parts of the interview were about other fighters, both in the men’s and women’s divisions. Grasso revealed that she has always wanted to cross gloves with none other than Weili Zhang. The multiple champion from China is in another division, but Grasso cares little. "Weili Zhang is my dream fight. [...] I would love to welcome her." Zhang did have a few fights in Flyweight and won, her career being defined by her wins and titles in the Strawweight. She also has a brown belt in Jiu-Jitsu but is proficient in Sanda, Kung Fu, Muay Thai, and Shuai Jiao. Her record in 28 fights is an incredible 25 wins and 3 losses, with 11 wins by KO. If she were ever to make a full switch to Flyweight, it would be a super fight that Grasso has been hoping for.
Finally, the last thing we will cover is her soft prediction for the main event of UFC 306, the Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili Bantamweight matchup. It is the main card fight of the night where the current champion O’Malley is looking to defend his title once again after beating Marlon Vera in March of this year. In 20 fights, his career record is 18 wins, 12 by knockout, a single knockout loss, and a single no-contest. On the other hand, Dvalishvili has 17 wins but only 3 by knockout, and 4 losses in 21 fights. Commenting on the headliner title clash, the Mexican stated, "[Sean] will have the power to hurt Merab badly, but Merab is also a very good wrestler." For sports bettors, this could be the most crucial answer of the whole Alexa Grasso exclusive interview with Stake as it will surely influence many people’s wagers.
Grasso’s Record and Fight History
Born on August 9, 1993 (31 years old) in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Karen Alexa Grasso Montes is a professional MMA competing in the UFC. She is the current champion of the Flyweight division and in the best stretch of her 12-year career. She started in 2012 in the Strawweight division and switched to Flyweight in 2020. Her reach is 168 cm, she is 165 cm tall and weighs 57 kg.
So far, she has been in 20 fights, winning 16 and losing 3. Regarding her wins, 4 were knockouts, 2 by submission, and 10 by judges’ decision. She lost once by submission and twice by decision, with 1 split draw in her most recent, title-defending fight. Her last loss came all the way back in 2019 when she lost by decision to Carla Esparza. Speaking of her recent fights, Grasso had a year to remember in 2023. Not only did she win her first belt, but she also confirmed it 6 months later. Now, she has a chance to do it again.
The fight in which she took the title from Valentina Shevchenko was the co-main event of UFC 285. For that win, apart from the title belt, she also won the 2023 World MMA Submission of the Year, the 2023 Upset of the Year, and was voted 2023 Female Fighter of the Year. Wrestling Observer Newsletter named her Women’s MMA MVP for 2023 and both MMAJunkie and Cageside named her 2023 Fighter of the Year. Truly a match to remember and one that will define her career whatever happens next.
What Other Fights Are Scheduled for UFC 306?
Other than the two championship fights we mentioned already, there are going to be 8 more fights for the fans to enjoy and wager on. Former UFC Featherweight Championship challenger Brian Ortega takes on Diego Lopes, in one of the main card bouts. They were supposed to fight already but Ortega withdrew with an illness.
Another great fight was supposed to take place, the middleweight bout between former LFA champ Anthony Hernandez and Michel Pereira. However, due to the impact of this fight, it will actually headline the next UFC Fight Night as the main event. In the lightweight division, it is Daniel Zellhuber and Esteban Ribovics clashing gloves. Those are all the Main card fights.
In the preliminary card, Kevin Borjas and Edgar Chairez were scheduled to fight in the flyweight bout. However, Borjas withdrew so Chairez is now going to fight Joshua Van. Then there is the lightweight bout between Ignacio Bahamondes and Manuel Torres. On the women’s side, Irene Aldana and Norma Dumont face off in the bantamweight while Yazmin Jauregui faces against Ketlen Souza in the Srawweight. There will also be one early preliminary card, the bantamweight bout between Raul Rosas Jr. and Aori Qileng.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
With a great first-hand segway from Stake’s interview with Alexa Grasso, everything is ready for UFC 306. All that is now left for us combat sports fans is to prepare for September 14 and have our betting tickets nearby. These 10 fights are going to be amazing as careers are on the line as well as potential GOAT status. For the fans of Ultimate Fighting Championship and mixed martial arts in general, the upcoming weekend is shaping up to be one for the ages. The video spectacle that Dana White promised for the Sphere will only make things more spectacular and give everyone involved, both in Vegas and at home, a night to remember.
