The rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night 227 ended in a controversial split draw. Check out the latest pound-for-pound rankings and the potential for a trilogy between Grasso and Shevchenko.
| Rank | Fighter | Record | Promotion |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amanda Nunes | 23-5 | UFC |
| 2 | Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino | 26-2, 1 NC | Bellator |
| 3 | Alexa Grasso | 16-3-1 | UFC |
| 4 | Weili Zhang | 24-3 | UFC |
| 5 | Valentina Shevchenko | 23-4-1 | UFC |
| 6 | Carla Esparza | 19-7 | UFC |
| 7 | Liz Carmouche | 19-7 | Bellator |
| 8 | Manon Fiorot | 11-1 | UFC |
| 9 | Erin Blanchfield | 11-1 | UFC |
| 10 | Rose Namajunas | 11-6 | UFC |
These are the current pound-for-pound rankings in mixed martial arts. The controversial draw between Grasso and Shevchenko has left fans wanting more and a potential trilogy between the two fighters.
Controversial Draw at UFC Fight Night 227
The highly anticipated rematch between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko at UFC Fight Night 227 ended in a disappointing split draw. The result was largely due to a perplexing scorecard submitted by judge Mike Bell, who scored Round 5 10-8 in favor of Grasso. This decision has left fans and experts questioning the validity of the outcome.
While Grasso’s late push in the final round was impressive, it was not viewed as the type of dominance that would warrant such a high score. Had Bell scored the round 10-9 for Grasso, Shevchenko would have regained the flyweight crown with a split-decision victory.
The controversial draw has kept Grasso atop the division by the slimmest of margins, with no movement in the latest pound-for-pound rankings. Despite the inconclusive result, it is clear that a trilogy between Grasso and Shevchenko remains a possibility.
Pound-for-Pound Rankings
- Amanda Nunes (23-5) | UFC
Nunes recently announced her retirement from mixed martial arts after a dominant unanimous decision victory over Irene Aldana. With wins over some of the biggest names in the sport, Nunes leaves behind a legacy as one of the most accomplished female fighters of all time.
- Cristiane “Cyborg” Justino (26-2, 1 NC) | Bellator
“Cyborg” improved to 2-0 against Arlene Blencowe with a unanimous decision win in the Bellator 279 main event. She remains the reigning featherweight queen and is set to defend her crown against Cat Zingano.
- Alexa Grasso (16-3-1) | UFC
Grasso proved her worth in the rematch against Shevchenko, battling tooth-and-nail for five rounds. The split draw allows Grasso to keep her flyweight crown, but a trilogy with Shevchenko is still a possibility.
- Weili Zhang (24-3) | UFC
Zhang showcased her dominance in a lopsided decision victory over Amanda Lemos. With notable wins over top contenders, Zhang is a force to be reckoned with in the strawweight division.
- Valentina Shevchenko (23-4-1) | UFC
Shevchenko displayed her champion’s resolve in the rematch with Grasso, but the split draw prevented her from regaining the title. A trilogy bout between Shevchenko and Grasso could be on the horizon.
- Carla Esparza (19-7) | UFC
Esparza’s second reign as strawweight champion was short-lived, as she lost the title to Zhang. Despite the defeat, Esparza has the potential to rise to the top again in a competitive division.
- Liz Carmouche (19-7) | Bellator
Carmouche showed her mettle with a fourth-round submission victory in her rematch against DeAnna Bennett. She has won six consecutive fights in Bellator and is set to defend her 125-pound strap against Ilima-Lei Macfarlane.
- Manon Fiorot (11-1) | UFC
Fiorot’s superior size and power led her to a unanimous decision win over former champion Rose Namajunas. With six consecutive victories, she is a top contender in the flyweight division.
- Erin Blanchfield (11-1) | UFC
Blanchfield staked her claim as the No. 1 contender at 125 pounds with a hard-fought unanimous decision win over Taila Santos. Her six-fight winning streak makes her a formidable opponent for any flyweight.
- Rose Namajunas (11-6) | UFC
Namajunas came up short in her flyweight debut, losing a unanimous decision to Fiorot. She will need to regroup and strategize for her next fight in order to bounce back from her recent setbacks.
These rankings are compiled by a panel of experts and reflect the current state of the divisions and pound-for-pound rankings in mixed martial arts.
