Alexa Grasso, Valentina Shevchenko update, Jessica Andrade lawsuit & a UFC Vegas 97 fight is off

As a seasoned gamer with decades of combat sports experience under my belt, I can say that the world of MMA is always full of surprises and twists. The Alexa Grasso-Valentina Shevchenko relationship seems to be in an odd place right now, but it’s nothing unusual when you’re about to face off in a high-stakes fight like this one. I’ve seen friendships turn sour on the eve of battle more times than I care to remember!

In this article, I break down the news from around the combat sports world and give you my take on it in this new daily column. Check back every morning to see the biggest or most obscure headlines and what I think about them below. Is there a news article, interview, or viral clip you want me to react to? Tweet me at @photoamy33 and I might include it in the next installment.

Alexa Grasso: Valentina Shevchenko relationship in ‘really, really weird’ place

UFC flyweight title holder Alexa Grasso is preparing for her third consecutive match against former champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306 in the coming week, but she finds their usually cordial rapport has become somewhat awkward. “It’s incredibly strange,” she shared with MMA Junkie this week. “I can sense the strangeness. However, when it comes to fight week and the day of the fight, things shift. Our goal is to attempt to defeat each other, which is crucial. It’s fascinating to have more interactions with her. We managed to do a lot together previously.”

It seems logical that such a mindset arises when preparing for a fight against someone else. However, this doesn’t necessarily imply any problems in their friendship; instead, it appears Shevchenko is shifting into fight mode and focusing on mental preparation for what might be the biggest battle of her career.

Jessica Andrade is suing her ex-coach for embezzlement

As a devoted admirer, I’m sharing the news about my beloved UFC champion Jessica Andrade. She’s taking legal action against her former coach and manager due to allegations of embezzlement. According to Andrade, her manager Gilliard Parana has been stealing approximately $2 million from her earnings throughout her impressive career. However, Parana has refuted these accusations.

If what transpires turns out to be accurate, I sincerely hope Andrade manages to retrieve all the money she’s lost. However, I anticipate this might serve more as a symbolic victory rather than a tangible one. It will likely prove extremely challenging for her to recover that amount of money, even if she wins the case.

Alessandro Costa out of UFC Vegas 97

Unfortunately, I’m unable to step into the octagon on September 7th due to an injury that won’t let me give my best performance. As much as I was looking forward to this fight and its potential impact on the rankings, I believe it’s wiser to recover fully rather than risk fighting injured.

Costa wisely chose to withdraw from the fight since he isn’t at his full strength, which is disappointing as this bout was crucial for the division and highly anticipated by MMA enthusiasts.

2024-09-03 18:33

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