Alexa Grasso has been to the top of the mountain in the UFC, and while she wants to make that climb again, she’s taking the journey with a different approach.
The former UFC flyweight champion returns to action this Saturday in the co-main event of UFC Seattle. Grasso faces Maycee Barber in a rematch from their 2021 matchup, where Grasso earned a unanimous decision victory at UFC 258.
Grasso enters the bout on a two-fight skid, losing a pair of one-sided decisions to now-champ Valentina Shevchenko and, most recently Natalia Silva at UFC 315 this past May. With nearly a year on the sidelines, Grasso is taking things one fight at a time.
“Well, actually, the only thing I know right now is that I need to win first before thinking about that because, there are other girls that have been having a few victories that are on the top right now,” Grasso told MMA Fighting. “There’s Natalia, there’s Manon, so at this moment I just feel that I have to make my path again – to get a win and then let’s see.
“Let’s see how many fights I need, but I’ll do anything I need to be in the opportunity to fight for a championship again.”
Grasso captured the championship with a stunning upset submission win over Shevchenko at UFC 285 in March 2023. In their rematch a year later, they fought to a draw in one of the best fights of 2024.
While on the wrong end of back-to-back decisions, Grasso says she’s as clear-minded as she’s ever been, and ready to get back to what she loves after nearly a year of reflection, growth, and lessons learned.
“I mean, no pressure at all,” Grasso said. “I like this because I love to feel this emotion to do this again. I remember when I had my first fight at 125, it was the same, you know? Like, ‘OK, let’s start from zero, let’s start this again, and let’s see how many fights do we need to get the opportunity to fight for the championship again.’ …
“After fighting like, how many? Four times, five-round fights, the training camp, the fight, it’s so hard. Your body feels it too. Injuries are coming because five rounds, it’s tough, and being the champion also, it’s a very tough duty. I learned a lot from that because that was the first time for me to experience all of those emotions, all of those jobs, all of those things that you have to handle, being a champion.
“I learned a lot from that too, so I’m excited to stop, to think, to see, to review everything, and how to do this again, but better. That’s my goal right now because I learned a lot. I swear to God, I learned a lot from all these last years. So I’m excited. Like honestly, I’m excited.…I’ve been always in love with the sport, but right now it’s different. After you had the championship, and experience all of those amazing things, OK, now it’s time to put the emotions [in check] — calm – and think, ‘OK, I’m going to do this again, but better.’”
Barber has done nothing but win inside the octagon since her decision loss to Grasso, winning seven straight as she hopes to cement a championship opportunity in the biggest fight of her career to date.
Grasso aims to be a roadblock, once again for the surging contender, and hopes to put a stamp on things the second time around.
”It’s going to be an amazing fight,” Grasso said. “We both like to go there and brawl. We both like to put on a show. That’s why this fight excites me the most.
“I’ve been improving my boxing, my striking a lot, but also my jiu-jitsu game. If I have the opportunity on the ground… last time I was very close to submitting her, so maybe this time I hope I can achieve that. But if not, I’m pretty sure it’s going to be an amazing fight.”
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