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Former women's flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko has raised concerns over referee Jason Herzog's decision to separate her and Alexa Grasso during their fight at UFC 285. Shevchenko claims that she was still landing strikes on Grasso while on the ground when the referee intervened.
In the fourth round of the fight, 'Bullet' attempted a spinning back kick, which Grasso successfully countered by jumping on Shevchenko's back and applying a rear-naked choke, ultimately leading to the former champion's defeat and the loss of her title.
During a recent interview on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani, Shevchenko stated:
"I never thought about this but now I kind of like it's very clear in my mind and few actions what referee [Jason Herzog] did in the the fight. I completely don't understand, kind of like why he did that because he was referee in my last two fights."
She added:
"As I mentioned this action is kind of like a hard to understand for me, why it was because when I rewatched the fight and it's not my fault that Alexa could not go out from that position because I was holding her very tight in that moment."
Check out Shevchenko's remarks below (from 2:23:04 onwards):
Valentina Shevchenko believes that the referee's decision to separate them while she was still actively striking Grasso on the ground may have affected the outcome of the fight. The former champion's comments have sparked a debate about the role of referees in mixed martial arts and the need for consistency in their decision-making process.
Valentina Shevchenko declares she aspires to finish Alexa Grasso in the rematch
Valentina Shevchenko recently detailed her championship loss to Alexa Grasso and expressed her desire for vengeance. 'Bullet' responded to her defeat by stating that she intends to finish Grasso in their rematch to prove her dominance.
During her appearance on The MMA Hour, Shevchenko expressed her unwavering determination to reclaim her title and seek revenge against Grasso. Despite her defeat, she remains focused and motivated towards achieving her goals.
The Kyrgyzstani-Peruvian combatant stated:
"I'm just gonna go there and just finish the fight. And this is what I feel, that I have to do because it's very important to... not just win by points but definitely kind of like, to show your superior level in this. It's truly very important for me."
Check out the entire discussion below (from 2:15:10 onwards):
