Noche UFC 293 concluded with a split decision draw between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, thus allowing Grasso to retain the belt. Before that, some standout performances on the card put Jack Della Maddalena, Raul Rosas Jr. and Tracy Cortez on an interesting path. Brett Okamoto, Marc Raimondi and Jeff Wagenheim react to the biggest moments of the night in Las Vegas.
It was a back-and-forth fight from start to finish. Valentina Shevchenko had the early momentum. Alexa Grasso took over. Then Shevchenko again. Then Grasso. Then … a draw?
What an unsatisfying way to end the festivities of Mexican Independence Day, a celebration of a dogged combat sports culture known for fighters battling it out until one of them cannot fight anymore. Then again, a case could be made for either of these women to have her arm raised on Saturday night, so it was poetic justice that they both had their arms raised at the conclusion of the Noche UFC main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
In some respects, this rematch played out much like the first meeting in March, when Grasso dethroned the longtime UFC women’s flyweight…
