2023 mixed martial event in Nevada, US
UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 (also known as UFC Fight Night 227 , UFC on ESPN+ 85 and Noche UFC ) was a mixed martial arts event produced by the Ultimate Fighting Championship that took place on September 16, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Paradise, Nevada , part of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Area , United States.[2]
Background
The event celebrated Mexican independence day , which included having a variety of Mexican fighters compete at the event.[3]
A UFC Women's Flyweight Championship rematch between current champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko headlined the event.[4] The pair previously met at UFC 285 in March 2023 in which Grasso captured the title via a fourth round submission upset.[5]
A welterweight bout between Shavkat Rakhmonov and former interim UFC Middleweight Championship challenger (also The Ultimate Fighter: Team Jones vs. Team Sonnen middleweight winner) Kelvin Gastelum was expected to take place at the event.[6] However, Gastelum withdrew after sustaining a facial fracture.[7]
A middleweight bout between Chris Curtis and Anthony Hernandez was expected to take place at the event.[8] However, Curtis withdrew due to a rib injury and was replaced by Roman Kopylov .[9] In turn, Hernandez pulled out of the bout due to a torn ligament and was replaced by Josh Fremd.[10]
A welterweight bout between Daniel Rodriguez and Santiago Ponzinibbio was expected to take place at the event.[11] However, Rodriguez was pulled from the bout by USADA after testing positive for the banned substance ostarine .[12] Ponzinibbio then announced in early September that he would not be competing at the event after all.[13]
A women's strawweight bout between Elise Reed and Cynthia Calvillo was expected to take place at the event.[14] However, Calvillo pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced by Iasmin Lucindo in a catchweight bout of 120 pounds.[15] In turn, Reed was removed from the event for undisclosed reason and was replaced by Josefine Lindgren Knutsson .[16] Then, Lucindo withdrew from the event due to an undisclosed injury and newcomer Marnic Mann served as her replacement.[17]
A lightweight bout between Natan Levy and Alex Reyes was scheduled for the event.[18] However, Levy withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons and he was replaced by newcomer Charlie Campbell.[19]
Results
Main card (ESPN+)
Weight class
Method
Round
Time
Notes
Women's Flyweight
Alexa Grasso (c)
vs.
Valentina Shevchenko
Draw (split) (48–47, 47–48, 47–47)
5
5:00
[a]
Welterweight
Jack Della Maddalena
def.
Kevin Holland
Decision (split) (28–29, 29–28, 29–28)
3
5:00
Bantamweight
Raúl Rosas Jr.
def.
Terrence Mitchell
TKO (punches)
1
0:54
Lightweight
Daniel Zellhuber
def.
Christos Giagos
Submission (anaconda choke)
2
3:26
Featherweight
Kyle Nelson
def.
Fernando Padilla
Decision (unanimous) (29–28, 29–28, 30–27)
3
5:00
Preliminary card (ESPN+)
Women's Strawweight
Lupita Godinez
def.
Elise Reed
Submission (rear-naked choke)
2
3:30
Middleweight
Roman Kopylov
def.
Josh Fremd
KO (punch to the body)
2
4:44
Flyweight
Edgar Chairez
vs.
Daniel Lacerda
No Contest (premature stoppage)
1
3:47
[b]
Women's Flyweight
Tracy Cortez
def.
Jasmine Jasudavicius
Decision (unanimous) (30–27, 30–27, 29–28)
3
5:00
Lightweight
Charlie Campbell
def.
Alex Reyes
TKO (punches)
1
3:38
Women's Strawweight
Josefine Lindgren Knutsson
def.
Marnic Mann
Decision (unanimous) (30–24, 30–25, 30–27)
3
5:00
[20]
Bonus awards
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[21]
Fight of the Night : No bonus awarded.
Performance of the Night : Raúl Rosas Jr. , Daniel Zellhuber , Lupita Godinez , Roman Kopylov , and Charlie Campbell
See also
References
^ a b Mike Bohn (2023-09-17). "Noche UFC post-event facts: Alexa Grasso, Valentina Shevchenko fight to rare title draw" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-09-17 .
^ Staff (2023-06-24). "Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 UFC flyweight title rematch set for September" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24 .
^ Drew Beaupré (2023-06-24). "UFC targeting Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 title bout on Mexican independence day" . si.com. Retrieved 2023-06-24 .
^ Abhishek Nambiar (2023-06-29). "Breaking: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko 2 set to headline UFC card on Mexican Independence Day" . sportskeeda.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29 .
^ Simon Samano (2023-03-05). "UFC 285 results: Alexa Grasso makes Valentina Shevchenko tap out, wins flyweight title in huge upset" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-06-29 .
^ Damon Martin (2023-06-28). "Shavkat Rakhmonov vs. Kelvin Gastelum set as co-main event for UFC card on Sept. 16" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01 .
^ Nolan King (2023-07-01). "Kelvin Gastelum out of UFC fight vs. Shavkat Rakhmonov due to injury" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-01 .
^ Matthew Wells and Nolan King (2023-06-25). "Chris Curtis set to face Anthony Hernandez at September UFC Fight Night event" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15 .
^ Alexander K. Lee (2023-08-15). "Roman Kopylov replaces Chris Curtis, fights Anthony Hernandez at Noche UFC" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15 .
^ With Anthony Hernandez out of Noche UFC, Josh Fremd steps in to fight Roman Kopylov (2023-08-23). "With Anthony Hernandez out of Noche UFC, Josh Fremd steps in to fight Roman Kopylov" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23 .
^ Curtis Calhoun (2023-07-27). "Daniel Rodriguez vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio added To UFC's Mexican independence day card" . mmanews.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17 .
^ Staff (2023-08-17). "Daniel Rodriguez announces positive drug test, out of Noche UFC fight with Santiago Ponzinibbio" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-17 .
^ Max Rhoades (2023-09-08). "Santiago Ponzinibbio out for September 16, Noche UFC: Grasso Vs. Shevchenko 2" . nosmokesport.com. Retrieved 2023-09-12 .
^ Nolan King (2023-07-14). "Cynthia Calvillo vs. Elise Reed targeted for UFC's Mexican Independence Day card" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23 .
^ Nolan King (2023-08-21). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Aug. 14-20)" . mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23 .
^ Jay Anderson (2023-08-29). "Josefine Knutsson signs with UFC after all, faces Iasmin Lucindo at Noche UFC" . cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-08-30 .
^ Jay Anderson (2023-09-08). "Marnic Mann replaces Iasmin Lucindo, faces Josefine Knutsson at Noche UFC" . cagesidepress.com. Retrieved 2023-09-08 .
^ News Desk (2023-08-10). "Natan Levy vs Alex Reyes reported for Noche UFC on Sept 16" . itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-08-10 .
^ Vipin Raghuwanshi (2023-09-08). "Noche UFC: Natan Levy out, Charlie Campbell debuts vs Alex Reyes" . itnwwe.com. Retrieved 2023-09-09 .
^ "UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2" . Ultimate Fighting Championship. Retrieved 2023-06-28 .
^ Staff (2023-09-17). "Noche UFC post-fight bonuses: 5 get additional $50,000 performance bumps" . mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-09-17 .
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