Hopes for a new start for Grasso and Shevchenko after the trilogy

UFC women's flyweight champions Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko will likely meet for the last time when they complete their trilogy later this year. After that? Both fighters are hopeful that they'll face new challengers.

Of course, that all depends on the outcome of a showdown that could become the main event of UFC 306 at the Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 14. The bout comes on the heels of Grasso and Shevchenko, who are both coaches on this season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” which was filmed earlier this year and premiered last Tuesday on ESPN and ESPN+.

In their last two bouts, Grasso (16-3-1 MMA, 8-3-1 UFC) pulled off one of the biggest upsets of all time by defeating Shevchenko (23-4-1 MMA, 12-3-1 UFC) by fourth-round submission at UFC 285 in March 2023. Six months later, the two fought to a hotly debated split draw in a rematch at Noche UFC. This will likely be the last time Grasso and Shevchenko fight unless there is a clear winner in the trilogy. Both are looking forward to new additions in the form of top contender Manon Fiorot or the winner of next month's UFC Fight Night main event between Maycee Barber and Rose Namajunas in Denver. Despite losing to Fiorot in March, Erin Blanchfield could also enter the fray, depending on the timing and circumstances.

Coming off consecutive wins over Namajunas and Blanchfield, Fiorot is riding a 12-fight winning streak and is expected to rank high among these established fighters.

“Right now, at this point after (our) fight, it's Manon and Erin. I think Manon is on this list,” Shevchenko told MMA Junkie, “But I don't know what's going to happen this time. There's still some time — maybe three months, take a little break, then some more. I don't know what's going to happen, but at this point, it should be Manon. Erin got Manon to this position.”

Fiorot (12-1 MMA, 7-0 UFC) is an opponent Grasso would certainly enjoy, given their combination of styles.

“It would be amazing if I could fight her,” Grasso told MMA Junkie. “She's big, she's strong, she's got good striking, so it could be a perfect fight for me.”

But let's not forget Barber (14-2 MMA, 9-2 UFC). Once expected to become the youngest UFC champion in history, the 26-year-old is currently riding a six-fight winning streak and showing what she can do despite increased competition. If she puts in an impressive performance to beat Namajunas, it could set up a rematch with Grasso, who defeated her by unanimous decision in February 2021.

Barber can't get over this result and has said so openly, but it's no big deal for the champion.

“It's OK, we all need to be vocal and fight,” Grasso said, “but if there's a moment where she's the challenger and I'm the champion, I'll fight her again.”