[autotag]Henry Cejudo[/autotag] says [autotag]Valentina Shevchenko[/autotag] will be making a mistake if she stands toe-to-toe with [autotag]Alexa Grasso[/autotag].
Flyweight champion Shevchenko (23-3 MMA, 12-2 UFC) defends her title against Grasso (15-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) in Saturday’s UFC 285 co-main event at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN and early prelims on ESPN+.
Although Shevchenko has had no issues standing and trading with any of her prior opponents in her seven title defenses, Cejudo doesn’t think it would be a good idea against Mexican boxer Grasso.
“I will say this: This fight will go the distance,” Cejudo said on his YouTube channel. “The toughest matchup that Valentina’s going to have is against a girl like Alexa Grasso. Alexa Grasso has power in her hands. If Valentina decides to sit there and go blow-for-blow with Alexa Grasso, Alexa Grasso could potentially put her out.”
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However, Cejudo thinks Shevchenko could take advantage of her striking exchanges with Grasso by chopping away at her legs.
“There’s one thing that Alexa Grasso does have that not a lot of people have capitalized (on), is her stance. She’s very, very wide in her stance, and I do believe that if Valentina plays her game right tactically, there’s going to be a lot of leg kicks.”
For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC 285.