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In the co-main event of UFC 285 on Saturday at T-Mobile Arena, Alexa Grasso (16-3-0) defeated Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-0) by submission at the 4:34 point of the fourth round. She thus became the new undisputed flyweight champion of the world.
Grasso, 29, defeated a strong opponent to become the first Mexican woman to claim a championship belt in the UFC.
Prior to competing against Grasso, Shevchenko, 34, had effectively defended her title seven times in a row.
Because she was once dismissed as merely a boxer, Grasso's fourth-round submission shows how much she has developed as a complete martial artist
Shevchenko failed a takedown try early in the fourth round. Shevchenko had previously held Grasso under control with her ground dominance. Grasso was on the prowl in the fourth round as Shevchenko kept backing up and looking for a counter strike.
Shevchenko fought off a takedown attempt from Grasso, who then took some damage while looking for a big hit.
The Mexican fighter then jumped on Shevchenko's back after avoiding a kick with a minute to go in the fourth round. Grasso overcame numerous early setbacks to make it a competitive fight that she brilliantly ended.
She joined fellow Mexican Brandon Moreno as a current UFC champion by forcing her flyweight opponent to submit with a rear naked chokehold.