‘Like the world’s worst sunburn’: Shocking sight as Alexa Grasso pulls off ‘unthinkable’ UFC upset

Valentina Shevchenko’s nine-fight UFC winning streak at women’s flyweight was the longest active streak in the division. But no more.

Alexa Grasso made history on Sunday, becoming the first female Mexican-born UFC champion and taking out the division’s most dominant fighter to date.

“This moment feels like I’m dreaming... I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long,” Grasso said post-fight.

Grasso made a statement early in the fight with a few brutal punches that troubled the champion but ended up taking out the title by submission, getting a rear-naked choke in the fourth round.

The squeeze was so tight that the top half of Shevchenko’s head was turning red, with MMA writer Shaheen Al-Shatti likening it to “the world’s worst sunburn”.

“Grasso has shocked the world,” Jon Anik said in commentary.

“Alexa Grasso has stopped the reign.”

Speaking after the upset, Grasso revealed that it was no fluke and that she had actually been training to get back takes off the champion’s spinning kicks.

“Yeah I trained that, because I know she hits hard and she’s a great athlete,” Grasso said.

“I trained it so hard, like never before in my life.”

Grasso clipped Shevchenko with a right hand early and was troubling the champion with her speed and ability to cover plenty of distance.

The challenger had the bigger moments in the first round, with a three-punch combination in particular wobbling Shevchenko.

“She’s stunned, she’s wobbling... she hurt her with that left hand,” Daniel Cormier said.

“Grasso landing some power shots early,” added Anik.

Grasso then later went for the takedown and almost scored it, still capitalising on the position to land some more punches and knees to close the round.

Shevchenko responded to that early adversity by easily securing a takedown to open the second round, transitioning to a crucifix but Grasso was able to later get back to her feet.

It was yet another confidence boost for Grasso after the adjustment from the champion, who clearly realised she had a serious fight on her hands.

All eyes were again on Shevchenko and how she responded after using up a lot of energy to establish that position, one which so few have escaped in the past.

Grasso continued to take it to the champion but had to be careful to not over extend her punches after Shevchenko then scored another takedown to maintain ground control.

Cormier predicted it would “settle” Grasso’s aggressive approach.

“Because when she does over-extend even a little bit she will be taken down,” he added.

Unfortunately for Grasso, it happened again midway through the third round as the champion perfectly timed her takedown after ducking and avoiding an attempted punch.

“What timing, that was beautiful,” Joe Rogan said.

There was a spot of controversy though as referee Jason Herzog made the pair stand up wanting to see some action, although Shevchenko had landed a decent shot just before.

Herzog also then missed an illegal shot from Grasso on the ground.

“I don’t like that at all,” Rogan said.

“I don’t like the stand-up. I hate it. She worked hard to get to that position... what do you expect her to do? She was landing shots.”

It mattered little as Shevchenko took down Grasso again and took her back, although the challenger escaped then and applied the guillotine.

With the round coming to a close though there was little threat for Shevchenko as the fight went to a fourth round and the champion started to regain control of the fight.

Rogan said the earlier moments Grasso had served as a “wake-up call” for the champion, who made the necessary adjustments.

But when Shevchenko went for a spinning back, Grasso knew exactly what to do having trained for that moment, jumping on the champion’s back and getting the rear-naked choke.