In a stunning turn of events, former UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has laid out her post-surgery timeline for a highly-anticipated trilogy fight with Alexa Grasso. Shevchenko, who suffered a fracture in her right hand during her championship rematch against Grasso, is determined to make a swift return to the octagon.
Shevchenko’s injury occurred during the main event of last Saturday’s electrifying Noche UFC at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a split draw, setting the stage for what promises to be a fierce trilogy showdown between two of the sport’s top contenders.
The resilient Shevchenko, with an impressive record of 23-5 in MMA and 12-4 in the UFC, is wasting no time. She plans to undergo surgery next week, either in Las Vegas or Los Angeles, and expressed her eagerness to kick start her recovery. In her own words, “the sooner I have the surgery, the sooner the recovery will start and the sooner I come back to the action.”
Shevchenko’s determination and commitment to her return are admirable. Her focus on a swift recovery suggests she is eager to avenge her previous loss to Grasso.
This trilogy fight is all the more intriguing given that Grasso was the one to submit Shevchenko in their previous encounter, ending Shevchenko’s historic reign at 125 pounds. UFC CEO Dana White recently confirmed that a trilogy bout is on the horizon for these two fierce competitors.
Shevchenko believes her hand will heal in a matter of weeks’ post-surgery and is optimistic about her return to full fighting form in early 2024. “My understanding is like two or six weeks, something like that, in a cast, but I still can do exercise and maintain my shape just no hand,” Shevchenko said. “After that, it is going to be recovery, and as I am told, three or four months in full action, so it doesn’t sound that scary.”
It’s clear that Shevchenko is not backing down from the challenge posed by Grasso. Her determination to recover swiftly and regain her form demonstrates her unwavering dedication to the sport.
However, as with any recovery from surgery, there is always the potential for complications. Shevchenko remains positive but acknowledges that if her recovery is prolonged, she would be open to the idea of Grasso facing another challenger in her absence.
Shevchenko emphasized, “I don’t want to hold the division…Let’s hope I heal up very quickly, and we do the trilogy fight next.”
In the high-stakes world of UFC, Valentina Shevchenko’s unwavering determination and Alexa Grasso’s hunger for glory are set to collide once again, promising fans an epic trilogy showdown like no other.
As the countdown begins for Shevchenko’s surgery and subsequent recovery, the MMA world holds its breath, eager to witness these two titans step into the octagon for what could be the fight of a lifetime. Stay tuned for more updates on this electrifying matchup and the remarkable journey of these extraordinary fighters.
