Alexa Grasso, the UFC women’s flyweight champion, was recently awarded MMA Junkie’s 2023 Female Fighter of the Year. Grasso, who won the flyweight title from Valentina Shevchenko in a monumental upset, later defended the title against the same opposition at Noche UFC, thereby closing the year as the pound-for-pound queen.
In the main event of Noche UFC, Grasso made the first defense of her title with a controversial split decision. In 2023, three Mexicans held UFC titles, but Grasso remains the only one holding the belt going into 2024. Brandon Moreno and Yair Rodriguez were the other Mexicans who unfortunately lost their belts in 2023.
What’s next for Alexa Grasso in 2024?
Alexa Grasso looks forward to a very good year in 2024. Dana White and the UFC already announced their intention to book a Grasso vs. Shevchenko trilogy fight after the controversial split draw in the rematch.
Speaking to MMA Junkie after receiving the Female Fighter of the Year award, Grasso said, “I’m extremely motivated, and I give you my word that next year, fights will be better.” She further added, “I always put my heart and soul into every single training, in every single fight, and this is huge motivation for me for what’s coming.”
Grasso recently had a social media exchange with the women’s strawweight champion of the UFC, Zhang Weili. The two champions insinuated their mutual interest in fighting at UFC 300 where Grasso’s flyweight title will be on the line. Despite the verbal agreement, neither the UFC nor Dana White has confirmed anything about the potential matchup.
As the UFC has booked the Las Vegas Sphere for 2024 Noche UFC, they will surely need to have a Mexican fighter headlining the event. Therefore, it seems very unlikely that the promotion will risk the champion status of Grasso at UFC 300, leading to a scenario where the Grass-Shevchenko trilogy bout will be the next fight for the Mexican champion.
Alexa Grasso receives 2023 Women’s UFC Fighter of the Year award
Alexa Grasso had a stellar year in 2023 where she upset favorite Valentina Shevchenko to win the flyweight title and defend the title against the same opponent at Noche UFC. Her accomplishments won her many accolades as she won the Female Fighter of the Year award by ESPN MMA; Islam Makhachev won the Male Fighter of the Year. She had earlier won a similar award from MMA Junkie.
The women's flyweight champ and No. 1 women's pound-for-pound fighter in the UFC had a 2023 to remember 🏆
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) December 26, 2023
For more: https://t.co/Ud3tRFYhMY pic.twitter.com/sFW3RBfd0n
Even before, she won a hat-trick of awards at the 2023 World MMA awards; Female Fighter of the Year, Submission of the Year, and Upset of the Year with the latter two coming via her performance over Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 285. Interestingly, UFC 285 was one of the best fight cards of 2023 with Jon Jones returning to win the vacant heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
.@AlexaGrasso is our 2023 Female Fighter of the Year. In her acceptance speech, the UFC flyweight champion says she will use the honor as "a huge motivation" going into the new year. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/hzhY2KV3FQ
— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) December 22, 2023
With Zhang Weili fighting only once in 2023 and the bantamweight and featherweight titles of the women’s division left vacant after Amand Nunes’ retirement, Grasso was an easy pick for Female Fighter of the Year awards. The only other fighter in contention for the award was Weili, who is interested in moving up to fight Grasso for the flyweight title at UFC 300.
Who do you think Alexa Grasso will face next? Leave your prediction below!
