Grasso is fighting at Riyadh Season Noche UFC, with or without Shevchenko

If Valentina Shevchenko is serious about refusing to fight at Noche UFC, flyweight champion Alexa Grasso is serious about fighting the next contender on the list.

Shevchenko continues to say she’s not interested in fighting on a Mexican Independence Day themed event. She’s even gone so far as to suggest that theme led to judges handing Grasso a draw at last Noche UFC that should have been a win for “Bullet.”

Well, there’s no doubt now that the UFC’s big Sphere event on September 14th is going to be centered around Mexican Independence Day. The promotion just did a big reveal for the show, which is branded “Riyadh Season Noche UFC.” The star fighter they featured alongside that reveal? Alexa Grasso.

So if Shevchenko doesn’t want to fight on Mexican Independence Day? She can make room for Manon Fiorot, who Grasso believes is next in line.

“[Shevchenko] is the plan,” Grasso said during the Noche UFC Sphere reveal. “That’s the fight I would like that to happen. “I have to be part of Noche UFC. How can I not be part of Noche UFC this year? So, I just truly hope that she can accept the fight. It’s good for both of us, you know?”

If not, bring in Manon Fiorot, who is 7-0 in the UFC.

“I think that’s her opportunity, too,” Grasso said of Fiorot. “I mean, she’s a number 2 contender, I think she’s been having, like a nice winning streak. So, just in case, if this is not Valentina, it’s I think it’s gonna be Manon.”

Riyadh Season Noche UFC goes down September 14th, and reports have the UFC looking at two title fights for the big money event. We’ll keep you updated as bouts are confirmed for this historic card in Las Vegas, Nevada.