Alexa
Grasso and Valentina
Shevchenko have varying expectations about the theme of the
upcoming UFC
306 card.
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UFC 306 is being planned as a one-of-kind event scheduled to go
down at The Sphere on Sept. 14, two days prior to the Mexican
Independence Day. The UFC started a tradition of staging a card in
honor of Mexican Independence Day with Noche UFC this past
September. While UFC 306 is expected to have a similar theme,
Shevchenko recently claimed that it’ll have nothing to do with
Mexican Independence Day. Shevchenko believes the event will
instead be planned around The Sphere.
„As my understanding, there is a talk about Sphere but it is not
Mexican Independence Day [themed] because it is going to be focused
on The Sphere,” Shevchenko told MMAjunkie.com. “It’s gonna be focusing on UFC
306. So it’s kind of like, even Mexican Independence Day, it’s
gonna be a few days before the event happening. So it’s nothing
related to Mexican Independence Day. It’s going to be completely
different event, completely different location and completely
different day. Close, but different.“
However, Grasso, who is expected to face Shevchenko in a trilogy on
that card, claims to be unaware of any such change of theme.
“Well, as I know, it’s going to be Noche UFC again,” Grasso told
MMAjunkie.com. “I’ve seen a few interviews from
Dana White, and he is saying it’s a love letter for the Mexican
Independence Day, for the Mexican fighters, and he had a really,
really good experience last year with Noche UFC. It would break
records on ESPN, UFC Fight Pass. So, I mean as I know, it’s going
to be 100% dedicated to Mexican Independence Day.”
Grasso retained her belt with a controversial split draw over
Shevchenko at Noche UFC last year. Shevchenko later opined that the
bizarre 10-8 scorecard in favor of Grasso from judge Mike Bell,
which led to the draw, was due to the event being themed for
Mexican fighters. “Bullet” has since expressed some reluctance in
being of part of another card which has such implications. However,
Grasso is keen on being a part of the card regardless of who is
against her.
“I would love to be part of that event. It doesn’t matter if it’s
Valentina or [Manon] Fiorot, I mean anyone,” Grasso said. “I’m just
preparing. I’m working a lot, every area. I’m training every single
day. I’m in fight camp since I got 100% from my hand. So I mean I’m
just ready. I just want to fight that day. I would truly, truly
love to fight that date, and I’ll be ready, stronger than ever for
that date.”