The first Noche UFC ended in controversy.
Saturday’s UFC event ended with a rare split draw, which shocked everyone, including the fans at home. Since the fight was a draw, Grasso retains her UFC championship belt.
Alexa Grasso retains her UFC women’s flyweight title by split draw 🏆 #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/MqhCdfoi5q
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) September 17, 2023
Apparently, judge Mike Bell was the only judge to give Grasso a 10-8 round, which resulted in the draw.
Mike Bell had a 10-8 in R5 for Grasso.
if he scored it 10-9, the belt would be AND NEW for Valentina Shevchenko #NocheUFC https://t.co/p5GnIlflTv pic.twitter.com/8pf40pkvqY
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) September 17, 2023
Shevchenko said the judges couldn’t give her the fight because it was Mexican Independence Day.
Valentina Shevchenko says the judges couldn’t make a Decision because it’s Mexican Independence Day. I mean she’s not wrong though. Very valid opinion🤷♂️ #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/bWD2j7tI3M
— Jmag (@Jmagings) September 17, 2023
Here’s how fans and UFC pros reacted to the decision.
An absolute corker of a fight! All timer in WMMA imo. And it ends in a draw! Wow wow, wow! Well done @AlexaGrasso and @BulletValentina! Incredible!
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) September 17, 2023
Ok 10-8 round 5 is outrageous ..get him Cruz I’m letting u off the leash
— Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) September 17, 2023
Wow.
Split draw.
Grasso retains.
Have to run it back one more time.
Who says no?
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 17, 2023
A DRAW??? pic.twitter.com/XqMTqLE53k
— Conner Burks (@connerburks) September 17, 2023
10-8 in the 5th … 😅 https://t.co/wujxlZ5WTu
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) September 17, 2023
Never in a million years was that a 10-8 round 5. GTFO. pic.twitter.com/JeTtsez6rt
— Chamatkar Sandhu (@SandhuMMA) September 17, 2023
Sorry that's just a bad decision.
Mike Bell deserves grief after scoring that 10-8 for Alexa Grasso in R5. If that's the criteria where was the same 10-8 for Shevcheno with the guillotine choke in R3? Terrible #NocheUFC pic.twitter.com/LoWjR1OE0U— Damon Martin (@DamonMartin) September 17, 2023
Can we get new judges or revise the rules.
I’m not mad at a draw on the title fight but come on it’s a title fight 🤷🏾♂️— Jalin Turner (@JalinTurner) September 17, 2023
Mike Bell gave Grasso a 10-8 Round 5? That's…. really bad. Like, really bad!
— Mike Heck (@MikeHeck_JR) September 17, 2023