Valentina Shevchenko has spoken about the possibility of appealing her split draw against Alexa Grasso.
In a mega-event on Mexican Independence Day, both fighters ran things back as Shevchenko sought to gain her revenge against Grasso, who had stopped her at UFC 235 this year. In a back-and-forth battle, the result went to the scorecards. One of the judges, Mike Bell, scored the final round 10-8 in favor of Grasso, as Shevchenko was left reeling by the officiating. As a result, the ‘Bullet’ has not ruled out appealing the decision to the Nevada State Athletic Commission. After all, had Bell’s scorecard been just 10-9, Shevchenko would have regained her flyweight title via a split decision.
“[My manager and I] are definitely planning to meet this week. Right now, I don’t want to say anything ‘Yes or no’, but I think it’s a matter of time to measure everything and what it’s like to rewatch the fight. Maybe we’ll have more explanation with more evidence…but right now, it’s time to think about it and make the right decision. I’m happy with my performance, and this is what counts. That’s what matters,” Shevchenko
Although the chances of an appeal are slim, Shevchenko clearly has some unfinished business. The former featherweight champion was open to the idea of a trilogy. The split draw meant that Grasso still had the better of the rivalry with her single win following her fourth-round-submission win at UFC 285.
In response, Shevchenko has expressed her desire that a trilogy be done in her home country of Kyrgyzstan. She had been vocal about how the judges may have been influenced by the Mexican Independence Day, which is why a fight on her home turf has been suggested.
“I think it would be fair and very right to have next event in Kyrgyzstan, Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan. It’s going to be very smart because it has to be equal. We’re going to do Independence Day twice, very fair. I think all of the people in Kyrgyzstan, all the governments in Kyrgyzstan, they will do everything possible to make it happen. That’s why I think if the UFC wants to do that, they will find a way to do that… So I think it’s going to be fair. Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan, in Kyrgyzstan, I think it’s time to do that. It’s the very right time to do that,” Shevchenko stated
There is clearly enough demand to make it happen, and the social media response was indicative of that.
Social Media Response
All for it!!
— Phil Mimo (@PMmaFighters) September 18, 2023
I love the optimism.
— Josh Evanoff (@JoshEvanoff) September 18, 2023