Kamaru Usman Believes “Rematch With Grasso Could Be More Difficult For Shevchenko”

Kamaru Usman believes that Alexa Grasso will enter her rematch with Valentina Shevchenko even more confident. Flyweight champion Grasso (16-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) takes on Shevchenko (23-4 MMA, 12-3 UFC) in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Night at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The event is broadcast on ESPN+.

After seven title defenses, Shevchenko was dethroned by Grasso, who submitted her in the fourth round of their title fight at UFC 285 in March. Grasso initially wanted one more fight before a title shot but ended up getting the call to compete for the belt.

“When you’re fighting with someone who’s not supposed to be there at the time and you let them stay there long enough, and they start to develop confidence that they belong here, you’re in a fistfight. or some kind of situation you don’t want to be in. That is this case perfectly.

“Alexa Grasso, who at the time I think was ranked No. 3 and had the opportunity to fight because Valentina had run all over the division when she got there, she made the most of that opportunity because watching that fight, who did you think? Was Valentina Shevchenko going to lose to Alexa Grasso?

From personal experience, having lost to Leon Edwards twice in a row, former welterweight champion Usman expects Grasso to have a mental advantage over Shevchenko.

“This is one of those things, now, with the rematch, it becomes even more difficult to try to take that belt from these contenders. They go in there as mere contenders and leave as champions. That’s another confidence they have now by thinking and saying to themselves, ‘Oh, I was the best all the time.’ I just needed the opportunity.’