Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso engaged in an intense 25-minute battle at Noche UFC, but the excitement took a surprising twist when the result was revealed as a split draw.
The pivotal moment in this dramatic showdown came down to judge Mike Lee’s scorecard. He awarded a 10-8 score to Grasso for her performance in the fifth round, resulting in a final score of 47-47. While Grasso made a strong comeback in the fifth round with a slick reversal and a near rear-naked choke submission, it’s crucial to note that Shevchenko had control during the initial minutes of that round before finding herself defending on the ground.
Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz, who provided commentary alongside Jon Anik on Saturday, were both bewildered by Lee’s decision to grant a 10-8 score to Grasso for the fifth round.
Cormier stated, “That wasn’t a 10-8. It’s just odd. The fight played out as we expected. I thought Grasso won the second round, and she looked strong in the fourth, but if you don’t score it there, Valentina should be the champion.”
He added, “It’s unfortunate because this fight deserved a clear winner. Both of these women gave it their all, and they both fought brilliantly. A draw, I guess. I don’t understand where he gets 10-8. I’m trying not to be too hard on the guy.”
The other two scorecards were equally divided. Judge Sal D’Amato gave it 48-47 in favor of Shevchenko, while judge Junichiro Kamijo scored it 48-47 for Grasso. Lee also had Shevchenko winning three rounds, but it was that contentious 10-8 in the fifth that led to the 47-47 final tally. Otherwise, the UFC flyweight title would have changed hands at the end of the main event.
Cruz chimed in, saying, “At least we can put Mike Bell [up there] so we can say, ‘OK, Mike Bell, I don’t know what you were watching to make it a 10-8 round in the fifth.’ Like, what was that about? I don’t understand.”
He further questioned the criteria, “When you look at what it takes to make a 10-8 round, I don’t know how Mike Bell can say that’s what it is. When you look at the criteria, I don’t know. There’s no consistency.”
The current scoring criteria state: “In determining whether to score a round as a 10-8 round, a judge shall evaluate the three factors of impact, dominance, and duration. If the judge assesses that two of the three factors are present, the judge shall seriously consider whether to score the round as a 10-8 round. If all three factors are present, the judge shall score the round as a 10-8 round.”
This represents a departure from past versions of the scoring criteria that made 10-8 rounds rare in MMA. However, even by this updated standard, Cormier still couldn’t fathom how Grasso earned a 10-8 score, even though she clearly won the round.
Cormier expressed, “They want you to be more liberal with the 10-8’s, we know that now. But when it literally just makes a fight a draw, it’s almost like you’re salvaging [the result]. I thought Alexa Grasso won the fifth round, but that was only about a minute and a half of that type of control.”
With the fight ending in a split draw, Grasso retains her title, although this isn’t the way she likely wanted to hold onto it. Potential challengers like Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot are waiting in the wings, but Cormier sees no alternative but to have Grasso and Shevchenko face off for a third time to hopefully settle this rivalry once and for all.
“I think so, I think you have to [do it again],” Cormier concluded. “Valentina was going to be the champ tonight if not for a very bad fifth round. You have to [run it back for a trilogy]. It’s the best, most marketable, most competitive fight we have in the division right now.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about UFC Scorecard
What was the result of the Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso fight at Noche UFC?
The result of the Valentina Shevchenko vs. Alexa Grasso fight at Noche UFC ended in a split draw.
Who was the judge responsible for the controversial 10-8 scorecard in the fifth round?
Judge Mike Lee was the one who awarded the controversial 10-8 scorecard to Alexa Grasso for her performance in the fifth round.
What did Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz think about the 10-8 scorecard?
Both Daniel Cormier and Dominick Cruz were critical of the 10-8 scorecard, expressing their confusion and disagreement with it.
How did the other two judges score the fight?
Judge Sal D’Amato scored it 48-47 in favor of Valentina Shevchenko, while judge Junichiro Kamijo scored it 48-47 for Alexa Grasso.
What are the criteria for scoring a round as 10-8 in MMA?
According to the current scoring criteria, to score a round as 10-8, a judge should evaluate the three factors of impact, dominance, and duration. If two of these factors are present, the judge should consider a 10-8 score, and if all three are present, they should score it as a 10-8 round.
Is there a possibility of a rematch between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso?
Yes, there is a possibility of a rematch between Valentina Shevchenko and Alexa Grasso to settle the rivalry and determine a clear winner in the future. Daniel Cormier suggested it as the best and most marketable option for the division.
3 comments
shevchenko vs grasso, total shocker, judges messed it up big time, cormier cruz confused too!
wut Mike Lee smokin’? 10-8 for grasso? lol, cormier not happy, neither r we!
Rematch needed for sure, shevchenko got robbed! Cormier’s right, most competitive fight out there!