Flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko will put her title on the line for the eighth time when she meets Mexican challenger Alexa Grasso at UFC 285 on March 4.
ESPN has confirmed that an agreement has been reached between both fighters, while sources have told ESPN Deportes that a mutual agreement has been made.
The 125-pound title bout will be one of the main events of UFC 285 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, sources told ESPN Deportes. The pay-per-view event will also feature a heavyweight title fight between Jon Jones and Ciryl Gane.
Shevchenko, who hails from Kyrgyzstan, is a formidable force in the MMA world with a record of 23-3, including 12-2 in UFC. Her only two losses in the UFC have been against two-time champion Amanda Nunes. Shevchenko has also seen success against the likes of Holly Holm, Julianna Peña, Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Jessica Andrade.
Shevchenko’s most recent title defense was a close one, as she edged Brazilian challenger Taila Santos via split decision in June.
Grasso (15-3), who is based out of Guadalajara, Mexico, has been considered a top female prospect in the sport since she joined the UFC in 2016 at the age of 23. She has gone 7-3 in the Octagon and is currently riding a four-fight win streak.
