Henry Cejudo thinks Alexa Grasso’s power is underrated.
Flyweight champion Grasso (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) rematches Valentina Shevchenko (23-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in Saturday’s Noche UFC main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event streams on ESPN+.
Although Grasso dethroned Shevchenko by submission, Cejudo says her power at flyweight is unmatched.
“Alexa Grasso, what are her strengths? Her strengths right now, for Alexa Grasso, is the power,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “(She has) power in her hands, and particularly in the sport of boxing. This girl has a left hook. I remember drilling with her, going with her.
“She can throw hands. She can crack like a dude. This is why I’m a bit surprised she only has four KOs. But the power in her hands is what actually makes Alexa Grasso dangerous to all these girls at flyweight.”
Cejudo sees Shevchenko’s key to victories as distance, movement, implementing kicks, and her ability to make adjustments. As for Grasso, Cejudo says she has to keep it on her feet if she wants to get her hand raised again.
“I think the biggest thing for her is going to be her patience,” Cejudo said. “Followed up with her patience, is going to be her power. Crazy right hands, crazy left hooks – this girl can crack. The third key is, can she keep it striking?
“Can she keep it on her feet against a girl like Valentina Shevchenko? If Alexa Grasso could be patient, find the right timing for her power, and keep it on her feet, I do believe that we could potentially say, ‘And still.’”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for Noche UFC.