A rare non-PPV event will take over the T-Mobile Arena when the UFC puts on an event on September 16. That date is significant for being Mexican Independence Day.
The main event features a UFC flyweight title rematch between Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso became the first Mexican-born women’s champion in the UFC’s 30-year history when she beat Shevchenko at UFC 285.
She was also the third Mexican-born champion to get crowned this year, joining Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez. The 30-year-old is the last one holding gold of the three, though.
Now she headlines on a day previously reserved in the world of combat sports for boxing greats Canelo Alvarez and Julio Cesar Chavez.
WATCH: Noche UFC: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 on ESPN+
“I don’t call it pressure, I call it motivation,” Grasso said when asked if being the last Mexican champion standing adds pressure to her title defense. “We have done so much in the sport and this keeps me with tons of motivation to keep the belt in Mexico.”
UFC President Dana White, now CEO under the recent TKO Holdings deal with WWE, has looked to produce events in Mexico and honor some of the best fighters to come from the country. The UFC sent out a release discussing plans for a…
