The UFC 306 co-main event has an insurance policy in Manon Fiorot.
Fiorot’s coach, Aldric Cassata, told French media outlet Boxemag.com on Wednesday that his fighter has been tabbed as the backup for the trilogy between women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko on Sept. 14 at Sphere in Las Vegas.
“Manon is officially (planned as) the backup for the belt,” Cassata said, although the UFC has yet to make an announcement. “She will be in Vegas.”
Cassata also confirmed Fiorot’s status to MMA Junkie’s Farah Hannoun.
Fiorot, 34, carries a 12-1 overall record after winning 12 fights in a row since her lone defeat to Leah McCourt in her professional debut in 2018, including a 7-0 mark in the UFC. Fiorot’s push for a title shot gained major traction after her two most recent wins against former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas last September and most recently a clean sweep in a headliner with Erin Blanchfield this past March.
Back in April, shortly after her win over Blanchfield, Fiorot said in an interview with MMA Junkie that she would prefer being a backup to Grasso vs. Shevchenko rather than accept another fight while waiting for the trilogy to happen.
“If I have to choose, the best choice for me is to be the backup on the fight,” Fiorot said through an interpreter. “I think it’s a good thing if someone, Valentina or Alexa, have an injury or miss weight. I think the best choice for me now is to be backup for this fight so I can see the fight and perhaps do a faceoff after against the winner. … I think I deserve it.”
Apparently so does the UFC.
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