UFC Fight Night 227: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 (Noche UFC) | Event Profile, Full Results & Legacy
- Daniel Cornmeat
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Introduction
UFC Fight Night 227: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 — also known as Noche UFC — took place on September 16, 2023 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, celebrating Mexican Independence Day. The women’s flyweight championship rematch between champion Alexa Grasso and former long-reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko headlined a stacked card in front of 18,766 fans.
The main event was an instant classic that ended in a rare split draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) — allowing Grasso to retain her championship. Grasso dropped Shevchenko with a massive right hook in round two and nearly finished with a neck crank in the fifth, while Shevchenko controlled long stretches with grappling. The UFC rewarded all five finishers with PoN bonuses, including 18-year-old Raul Rosas Jr.’s 54-second KO.
Quick Stats
📅 Date: Saturday, September 16, 2023 — Noche UFC (Mexican Independence Day)
📍 Venue: T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada | Att: 18,766 | Gate: $2,265,537
📺 Broadcast: ESPN+ (UFC on ESPN+ 85)
✅ Result: Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko — Split Draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) (Round 5) — Grasso retains Women’s Flyweight Championship
⭐ Notable: Inaugural Noche UFC | Rare title fight draw | Grasso drops Shevchenko R2 | Della Maddalena SD Holland (16 straight wins) | Rosas Jr. 54-sec KO at 18 | Zellhuber anaconda choke | Kopylov body punch KO | 5 PoN, no FotN
Main Event: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2
Shevchenko started strong with a grappling-heavy approach, seemingly taking the first round. But Grasso masterfully adapted in round two, landing a devastating right hook that sent Shevchenko somersaulting to the canvas — the first knockdown of their rivalry. Both fighters showed incredible heart across five rounds of intense grappling exchanges and striking battles.
In the fifth round, Grasso took Shevchenko’s back, locked in a body triangle, and attacked with a neck crank as time expired. The scorecards reflected the closeness: 48-47 Grasso, 47-48 Shevchenko, 47-47 draw — a split draw that allowed Grasso to retain her championship. It was one of the rarest results in UFC title fight history and set up an inevitable trilogy.
Co-Main & Undercard Highlights
Jack Della Maddalena extended his winning streak to 16 consecutive victories with a split decision over Kevin Holland in the co-main event. Raul Rosas Jr. — just 18 years old — scored a devastating 54-second TKO of Terrence Mitchell (PoN). Daniel Zellhuber submitted Christos Giagos with an anaconda choke (PoN). Roman Kopylov earned his fourth straight KO with a body punch stoppage of Josh Fremd (PoN).
Lupita Godinez submitted Elise Reed with a rear-naked choke (PoN). Charlie Campbell stopped Alex Reyes with a vicious TKO in the prelim opener (PoN). The Chairez vs. Lacerda fight was marred by a referee error and later overturned.
Full Results
Alexa Grasso vs. Valentina Shevchenko — Split Draw (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) | Grasso retains Women’s FLW title
Jack Della Maddalena def. Kevin Holland — SD R3 (16 straight wins); Raul Rosas Jr. def. Terrence Mitchell — TKO R1, 0:54 (PoN); Daniel Zellhuber def. Christos Giagos — Sub (Anaconda Choke) R2 (PoN); Roman Kopylov def. Josh Fremd — TKO (Body Punch) R2 (PoN); Lupita Godinez def. Elise Reed — Sub (RNC) R2 (PoN); Charlie Campbell def. Alex Reyes — TKO R1 (PoN)
Bonuses & Awards
🥊 Fight of the Night: No bonus awarded
🏆 Performance of the Night (5 bonuses): Raul Rosas Jr. ($50k), Daniel Zellhuber ($50k), Lupita Godinez ($50k), Roman Kopylov ($50k), Charlie Campbell ($50k) — every finisher rewarded
Legacy & Impact
The inaugural Noche UFC was a massive success, establishing a new annual tradition celebrating Mexican Independence Day with a marquee UFC card. The Grasso-Shevchenko draw was one of the rarest results in championship history and set up a trilogy that would take place at the first-ever UFC event at the Sphere in Las Vegas in 2024. The card also showcased the next generation of Mexican fighters: Rosas Jr., Zellhuber, and Godinez all earned bonuses on a night designed to celebrate their heritage.
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