Alexa Grasso lands a hard shot on Ji Yeon Kim during a fight in August of 2020.
Alexa Grasso wins flyweight debut over Ji Yeon Kim by unanimous decision
The world’s largest MMA promotion is back at it again for UFC on ESPN+ 33 tonight, Saturday, Aug. 29.
A light-heavyweight clash between former title challenger Anthony Smith and Aleksandar Rakic headlines the event in the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The co-main event is a welterweight clash between former champion Robbie Lawlor and Neil Magny.
Prior to those bouts, flyweights Ji Yeon Kim and Alexa Grasso will clash.
Kim (9-2-2) is 3-2 in her UFC career and she will be making her first appearance of 2020. In her last outing she picked up KO win over Nadia Kassem at UFC 243. She comes into the bout ranked No. 14 in the world in the official UFC flyweight rankings.
Grasso (11-3) is 2-3 in her five UFC fights, but they have come against top notch competition. Her losses come against Felice Herrig, Tatiana Suarez and Carla Esparza. She holds a win over former title challenger Karolina Kowalkiewicz.
Here’s how their fight went down with a round-by-round breakdown and scoring.
For a full list of results click here.
Round 1
Grasso lands the first clean shot about 30 seconds into the fight with a nice long straight right hand. She follows up with a kick.
Both fighters are calm in the started and sharing jabs.
Halfway through the round, the two meet in the center and let the hands go and Grasso wins the exchange. A few seconds later, Kim responses with a nice short right hook. Kim lands the same strike a seconds later.
Grasso with a nice jab with a minute and a half left in the round and these two ladies are starting to open up the offense.
Grasso with lands two body kicks, a stiff jab and a big right hand within the final minute.
Close first round. If these two open up the offense just a little bit more this is going to be an exciting fight.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Grasso
Round 2
Grasso goes with the body kick again to start off the round. That’s the third time she’s landed that this fight.
Grasso now lands a great right hand to close out the opening minute of the second round.
Kim is starting to come forward a bit more and lands a few nice strikes.
Grasso lands another stuff jab and Kim tries throwing back but comes up empty.
Kim is getting more active but Grasso isn’t really getting hit with anything.
Grasso is starting to land real crisp shots. She tags Kim with four big punches as we enter the final minute.
Grasso lands another nice right hand and this time Kim’s legs buckle.
Big round for Grasso. She has a speed advantage and she’s starting to ramp it up.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Grasso
Round 3
Kim lands first starting out the final round.
Grasso doesn’t seem to have the foot on the gas at the moment and she is taking it easy.
The two engage in a clinch, Kim tries for a submission, but Grasso fights the hands and gets out of danger and breaks the clinch.
Kim is pressing forward and throwing a lot more. She goes to the clinch with just over two minutes and 30 seconds left in the round. Grasso spins Kim around and gets Kim’s back against the fence.
About a minute of clinch work from both fighters, Grasso secures a takedown. That takedown is her first since her UFC debut in 2016.
Grasso remains on top on the ground for the final minute. She even landed a few nice shots from that position. Strong end to the round for Grasso.
MyMMANews scores it 10-9 Grasso
MyMMANews scorecard: 30-27 Alexa Grasso
Official Result: Alexa Grasso defeats Ji Yeon Kim by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
