Alexa Grasso would love UFC to make Mexican Independence Day event a yearly tradition

UFC fans will get a taste of Mexico this Saturday night as the promotion honors Mexican heritage with Noche UFC, an event headlined by Mexican flyweight champion Alexa Grasso.

This is the first time the promotion has tried to build a card with plenty of Mexican talent taking place on Mexican Independence Day, Sept. 16. The event goes down at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas where Grasso (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) defends her women’s flyweight title for the first time in an immediate rematch against all-time great Valentina Shevchenko (23-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC).

It’s long been tradition to see boxing promoters build big fights both around Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day, but not so much in the UFC. Grasso would like to see this tradition extend to the octagon.

“That would be super cool, and I think it would be a good thing because you’ve witnessed it, there are many Mexicans now in the UFC, many,” Grasso told MMA Junkie in Spanish. “So, for me, it’s very important that they’re giving us this platform so we can show all of our skills, technique, personality, and who we are.

“In an ideal world, I would love to fight every Sept. 16. It would be really cool to see it become a tradition to go to Las Vegas or if a UFC event can be done in Mexico, that would be crazy. But yeah, in an ideal world, I’d love to see it.”

Grasso is happy to see the UFC honor her, her country, and her fellow Mexicans with Noche UFC. She’s grateful for the support and believes this is in part a product of the work that her and her team at Lobo Gym have put in for years.

“I’m very happy. I swear, I wake up some days to news that I just go, ‘Wow,’” Grasso said regarding the event. “I’ve worked so hard and been so responsible and disciplined that whether you want it or not, you get these little incentives.

“Sometimes you might not ask for them, you simply just work and these things happen. It’s beautiful. UFC has always pushed me, pressured me, and projected me to do my best. I’ve given them the result, and this is what happens. When you give good results, in this case the UFC, but really anyone you give good results to, they will always give you more incentives. So, yeah, I’m just super thankful for the UFC for these great opportunities.”

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