Referee Mike Bell’s already infamous 10-8 round has been the biggest talking point in MMA for the past few days.
Although there’s been a wide range of opinions on the scoring of the championship rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko, it’s been pretty much consensus in the MMA community that a 10-8 score in the fifth round of the fight wasn’t warranted.
That makes Shevchenko (23-5 MMA, 12-4 UFC), who was unable to re-claim the belt at Noche UFC after fighting to a split draw, feel a little better about the result of the fight. “Bullet” is confident she did enough to beat Grasso (17-3 MMA, 9-3 UFC) at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and feels the public does too.
“I’m happy that all the professionals around the world, all the people, they see the truth, they know what the result should be,” Shevchenko told MiddleEasy. “Yeah, I still had my hand raised up, but she had the same, too, so kind of not the way it should be. It should be just one hand raised for me. Everyone knows the truth. Even though it wasn’t the decision I was hoping for, I still had my hand raised up and professionals who know this sport who watched the fight, they know who the winner is of this fight. I’m also happy about my performance.”
One of those critics of the 10-8 score was UFC CEO Dana White, who blasted Bell’s scoring and said a trilogy bout between Grasso and Shevchenko likely is next.
That also was music to Shevchenko’s ears. She said she is determined to get the women’s flyweight title back once she heals up from her hand fracture.
“Hearing Dana say it’s going to be a trilogy, it’s going to be a third fight, that’s kind of like, ‘OK, it’s going to happen. It’s meant to be.’ That’s what people want. We have to put a clear period on this case and continue. (I’ll do) my recuperation first, getting in the best shape, and do what I love to do: fight.”
