Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko fought in the co-main event at Noche UFC (UFC 306). The women’s first trilogy bout in the UFC didn’t live up to expectations. Their performance in the octagon seems to have pissed off UFC Hall of Famer Chael Sonnen. The UFC veteran went on a significant rant expressing his disappointment. Here is what happened:
Chael Sonnen posted a video on his YouTube channel giving his post-fight analysis of UFC 306. Coming to the co-main event, Sonnen ranted about Alexa Grasso not capitalizing on key moments of the fight. He also blasted the Mexican champion for poorly executing armbars that further helped her opponent Valentina Shevchenko.
You didn’t almost have an armbar rinse and repeat from your back. Valentina was now beating you. She knows the math is in her favor. She knows you look like a fool. She also knows you think you have an armbar. So, she continues to give you her arm cause she doesn’t have to beat you anymore. She just had to run out the clock, and you helped her to do it.
Chael Sonnen via his official YT Channel
At UFC 306 women’s trilogy fight, the ability to not stuff takedowns and not get back on the feet caused Shevchenko to win. Grasso didn’t let this happen in the first two fights. However, it was much different this time. The bout went the distance and ultimately ended in a unanimous decision, with the judges scoring 50-45, 50-45, and 50-45 in Shevchenko’s favor.
The decision allowed Shevchenko to regain her title, while it also sparked controversy. Valentina Shevchenko, who believed she had done enough, expressed her intention to move on from this rivalry. That means that a fourth fight is unlikely to happen anytime soon. It turns out Chael Sonnen said something conspiratorial about the trilogy bout between Grasso and ‘Bullet.’
Chael Sonnen makes a conspiracy theory about Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko trilogy matchup
The first two fights between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko were highly competitive. In their first meeting at UFC 285 back in March 2023, Grasso pulled off a shocking upset. She submitted ‘Bullet’ in the fourth round via rear-naked choke to claim the flyweight title.
Chael Sonnen reveals truth about Alexa Grasso vs Valentina Shevchenko fight at Noche UFC (Image via Imago/X)Their rematch at Noche UFC last September ended in a controversial split draw. Many believed Shevchenko had done enough to reclaim her lost title. However, one judge made a controversial scoring. Even Dana White was upset about the scorecard.
They had headlined the previous Noche UFC event but not this fight and Chael Sonnen seems to know why. On his YouTube channel, the UFC veteran revealed that neither of the two parties wanted the fight in the first place.
This is the fight that nobody asked for. Grasso didn’t ask for this fight. Valentina didn’t ask for this fight. In fact, when they booked this fight, Valentina, who was the challenger, resisted the idea.
Chael Sonnen via his Official YT Channel (Time Stamp: 6.50-7.14)
Shevchenko mentioned at her post fight press conference that while she is open to fighting the best, she does not necessarily aim for specific opponents. She wishes to let the UFC decide her next matchups. That had Chael Sonnen all riled up as he mentioned that nobody could now ask for a rematch because the contenders themselves do not care anymore.
