Alexa Grasso prefers another UFC main event before potential title shot

LAS VEGAS – Alexa Grasso wants one more before going for gold.

The UFC women’s flyweight contender hopes to get another main event contest in preparation for a potential title shot against champion Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) on Saturday took a unanimous decision from Viviane Araujo (11-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) in the main event of UFC Fight Night 212 at the UFC Apex. It was Grasso’s first UFC main event and first five-round fight.

The victory put Grasso on a 4-0 run since she moved up to 125 pounds. Grasso knows a title shot may come, but she’d rather get one more test before getting into a title fight.

“I don’t know. I have to wait because there’s an important fight, too,” Grasso said at the UFC Fight Night 212 post-fight news conference. “It’s kind of like semifinals, but this is important. I have to wait. But definitely I faced a big challenge. First (time) 25 minutes fighting, and I hope I can do it again.

“I wish I can have another main event with one of the other girls – maybe the winner (of Katlyn Chookagian vs. Manon Fiorot), No. 2, the ones that are at the top. I would like to test myself again 25 minutes before that (title fight). But if I have to go for the belt, I will do it.”

Grasso thinks the next title shot will land on either her or the winner of Chookagian vs. Fiorot. The Mexican fighter won’t turn down a title shot if the opportunity presents itself, but ideally would like to get one more fight in before a championship bout.

The win over Araujo also marked Grasso’s second bout in 2022. The 29-year-old thinks she’s hit a sweet spot in activity.

“It feels amazing,” Grasso said. “This is a purpose that I had. First, be winning – four in a row. Then I would like to have two fights every year.

“I think five months is the perfect that you have to recover. I don’t want to rush, either. Right now, I feel good. But when you go home: ‘Oh my God, my shoulder. My knee.’ So I want to be 100 percent sure I’m good to be back in training and have a training camp. So twice a year fits perfect for me.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 212.