UFC flyweight champion Alexa Grasso returns at UFC 306 where she hopes to put this chapter of her career behind her.
Over the past two years, the Mexican star has only had one opponent in mind, former champion Valentina Shevchenko.
After shockingly submitting her to win the title back at UFC 285, the two women met in a rematch at the first ever Noche UFC this time last year where the fight was controversially scored as a draw.
This Saturday, Grasso will look to end the trilogy by beating Shevchenko once again so that she can move on to new and exciting challenges that await her at flyweight.
Alexa Grasso Tees Up Future Plans For Upcoming Title Defenses, Dream Fight & Two-Weight Goals
Grasso knows that beating the "Bullet" for a second time will require her to be at her absolute best but that doesn't mean she isn't excited for what could be in store for her down the line.
In a recent interview with Stake.com, she spoke about how a champion vs champion clash with strawweight queen Weili Zhang is something that really piques her interest.
''Weili Zhang is my dream fight. It will be one of my biggest fights to date. She is strong, powerful and well rounded. She is a great fighter and I even heard she would love to test herself at 125, so I would love to welcome her.''
At the same time, Grasso knows that the flyweight division has several contenders who have emerged during the time that she has been locked into the Shevchenko trilogy.
The champion is happy to defend the belt against the next worthy challenger which, in her opinion, is Manon Fiorot at this time.
I'm not the one who chooses these things, I think Manon Fiorot is more deserving of the title shot than Rose. She has been in the division longer and she has a bigger win streak. She was also next in line before she got injured, so I would like to fight Fiorot.''
Grasso also added that if she is able to keep hold of the flyweight title, she would like the opportunity to make history.
After becoming the first female Mexican UFC champion, she wants to hold two gold belts in the air, but is also conscious of doing what is best for her teammates.
I would love to be a two weight World Champion, it is such a big question and goal for me. However, I have friends in the upper weight classes such as Loopy Godinez in the Strawweight division and Irene Aldana in the Bantamweight division and our team's goal is to all be champions in each of our weight classes so I would have to pause that dream for now.''
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