Alexa Grasso Makes History for Mexico in The UFC
“We’re finally getting to where I wanted to be with Mexico.” UFC President, Dana White
Alexa Grasso made history by becoming the first UFC female Mexican-born champion.
“I was born, raised, and trained in Mexico 100% of my life,” Grasso said to the media after the win. She defeated Valentina Shevchenko in a fight where Grasso was considered a huge underdog but she seems to have been used to that in her professional career.
“When I started, we used to be told, ‘No you will never have a belt, you will never make it to the UFC.’” Grasso said of her path to winning the title. However, when she began her career she went 9-0 before suffering her first loss to Felice Herrig by decision. Her other two losses were to Tatiana Suarez and Carla Esparza. In retrospect, that shows just how good she is to be able to test herself against that level of competition, and shows that those losses gave her the design to improve.
She now joins the ranks of Brandon Moreno, who is now a two-time flyweight champion in the UFC. At featherweight, Yair Rodriguez is the interim title holder making a total of three Mexican-born champions in the UFC.
UFC President, Dana White has long been searching to find a way to get the same fanfare Mexican-based athletes in boxing have translated to the UFC. With three Mexican-born champions and another UFC PI being built in Mexico, it looks like that is finally happening. White said it is something he wanted to happen, “since day one.”
“If you look at what’s going on with the Mexican Champions and fighters right now. Wait till this PI is open down there for five-six years. Watch what’s gonna happen to Mexico, we’re finally getting to where I wanted to be with Mexico.”- UFC President Dana White on Mexico
Earlier on fight week, speaking with ESPN Desportes, when White was told how in boxing, Saul “Canelo” Alvarez will not be competing in Vegas on Cinco de Mayo weekend, he seemed to think it might be time for the UFC to take advantage with the talent they have. That was days before Grasso became champion.
When Moreno defeated Deiveson Figueiredo at UFC 283, he said that he thought it was time for the UFC to do a big pay-per-view in Mexico. He repeated that sentiment again when he congratulated Grasso on her win backstage at UFC 285.
“We need to do something huge in Mexico, “ said Moreno. “We need to do something huge in Mexico, in September. I don’t know, I’m just putting ideas on the table but we need to do something.”
With three Mexican title holders, the time is certainly right. Check out Grasso’s full post-fight interview above.
