Alexa Grasso: Everything You Should Know About the UFC Flyweight Legend

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is well known for its larger than life figures. Many athletes across the numerous weight classes and divisions have become popular, synonymous with mixed martial arts, and even UFC itself. Men and women who call the Octagon their home are celebrities, and the best of the best, mostly those who manage to win a title belt, transcend the borders of their sport. Thanks to the immense popularity of the promotion and the heavy attention being put on the best fighters, even people who never watched a single fight know the names. Among the ladies, not many have had the reputation and success of Alexa Grasso.

Who is Alexa Grasso?

Karen Alexa Grasso Montes is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on August 9, 1993, she competes in the women’s flyweight division of the UFC, where she is a former champion. As the second Mexican to win a title after Brandon Moreno, and the first Mexican woman to do so, she gained planetary recognition and achieved legendary status well before her retirement, especially in South (Latin) America. She is 5 ft 5 in, or 165 cm, and weighs 125 lb or 57 kg, the target weight her category dictates. Grasso has a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and has an MMA record of 16 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. Outside of the ring, she is a very famous internet, media, and fitness personality, as evidenced by her many online fans. Some are even brave enough to admit their Alexa Grasso feet obsession.

Over the course of her career, Alexa Grasso has kept her personal life very private. She is not publicly married and has no confirmed children. While rumors have occasionally linked her to other fighters, none have been publicly confirmed, and she has not disclosed any romantic relationships. Alexa places strong importance on her family relationships, with her father, Luis, playing a significant role in introducing her to martial arts and supporting her early career. More importantly for her career, her uncle and coach is Francisco “Pancho” Grasso, who has played a key mentoring role in her training. Her family remains a central part of her life, offering encouragement and guidance as she navigates the challenges of professional fighting. She focuses primarily on her career and training.

Career and Accomplishments

Grasso turned pro in 2012 and made her MMA debut in December of that year. In the first eighteen months of her career, she went undefeated 5-0 with 3 TKOs and 2 wins by decision. She then took a break for a year, only to return in 2014 to make her Invicta FC debut. She faced Ashlkey Cummins, Alida Gray, and Mizuki Inoue, winning against all three. She had plans to challenge for the Invicta Strawweight Title in a bout against Livia Renata Souza, but withdrew due to injury. Then came her UFC debut on August 11, 2016, and the rest is history. In 22 UFC fights, she had 16 wins, 4 by KO, 2 by submission, and 10 by decision. She only lost 5 times, once by submission and 4 times by decision. She has also had a controversial draw, but more on that later.

Alexa Grasso VS Valentina Shevchenko

Throughout her career, Grasso has only fought one fighter multiple times, her biggest rival and nemesis, Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso has fought the Ukrainian legend three times, winning once, losing once, and drawing once. That is what a true rivalry should look like, according to many, with each of the ladies having one win against the other and one undecided fight. It hardly gets any better than that. Let us break down these three flights in more detail.

The first fight between Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko took place on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285 in Las Vegas. Entering the bout as a significant underdog, Grasso shocked the MMA world by submitting Shevchenko via rear naked choke in the fourth round. The victory ended Shevchenko’s long and dominant reign as the women’s flyweight champion and made Grasso the first Mexican born woman to win a UFC title. The upset was one of the biggest in recent UFC history and instantly elevated Grasso’s profile as a new face of the division and a symbol of national pride for Mexico. It was the crowning moment of her career.

Their rematch occurred rather quickly, which does not always happen in MMA. It was on September 16, 2023, at Noche UFC, an event celebrating Mexican Independence Day, also in Las Vegas. This time, the two fought to a split draw after a tightly contested five round battle. The official scorecards read 48-47 for Shevchenko, 48-47 for Grasso, and 47-47, largely due to one judge scoring the final round 10-8 for Grasso after she ended the fight in a dominant position. The decision was very controversial and divided fans and analysts alike, but it allowed Grasso to retain her flyweight title. The draw kept the rivalry alive and established one of the most competitive trilogies in the history of women’s MMA.

The trilogy concluded on September 14, 2024, at UFC 306, held at The Sphere in Las Vegas, a now historic venue for combat sports. In this third meeting, Shevchenko displayed her trademark precision and experience and managed to defeat Grasso by unanimous decision with scores of 50-45 across the board. The performance was a statement win for Shevchenko, who reclaimed her title and reasserted herself as the best in the division. For Grasso, the loss marked the end of her championship reign and her first defeat in over four years. However, it solidified her status as one of the elite fighters in women’s MMA and as Shevchenko’s toughest rival to date. It was the end of a one and a half year long rivalry that dominated the headlines.

Alexa Grasso’s Fights, Record, and Opponents

With a record of 16-15-1, the Mexican flyweight combatant is among the most successful in her division, as well as women’s UFC overall. For almost 10 years, she has been a dominant presence in MMA. From her UFC debut in 2016 to her latest fight this year in 2025, a lot of things have changed, and she is still going strong. She may no longer be a champion with a belt around her waist, but Grasso has nothing left to prove. Here is a look at all of her opponents in chronological order, complete with the event, date, winning method, and round time.

Alexa Grasso Outside of UFC and MMA

Alexa Grasso has cultivated a strong and diverse presence beyond her achievements in the Octagon. On social media, she has grown into a compelling influencer figure with content that combines athletic training, glimpses into her lifestyle, and personal reflections. Her bilingual posts in Spanish and English connect with fans both in Latin America and globally, and her commitment to authenticity of showing both the intensity of her preparation and her off beat recovery or downtime moments has helped her stand out. Her Instagram account of over 1.4 million followers has seen steady growth, with daily uploads and consistent engagement that highlight both her professional and personal life.

In terms of business endeavors and brand partnerships, Grasso has leveraged her champion status and Mexican heritage to secure endorsements from fitness, apparel, and nutrition companies. She is sponsored by Monster Energy, 1st Phorm, Reebok, and Stake. These deals complement her fighter income and help position her as a crossover athlete brand personality in the growing Latino sports market. She has also worked as an analyst for the UFC’s Spanish language broadcasts, displaying a keen eye and talent toward a post fight career in sports media or commentary. This diversification shows her ambition to remain influential in the MMA world even beyond her active fighting career. At the moment, her net worth is estimated to be well over $1 million.

Outside of strict business and media work, Grasso remains deeply rooted in her hometown of Guadalajara. On many occasions, she has refused to relocate despite suggestions that success required moving to the USA. She continues training at and promoting her local gym while also speaking publicly about empowerment, mental health, and her role as a Mexican athlete inspiring younger generations. Her willingness to share the mental and physical challenges of the sport, including moments when she considered quitting during a long layoff, adds a relatable human dimension to her public image. Through her combination of athletic excellence, media savvy, and personal authenticity, Grasso has established herself as a prominent figure both inside and outside of MMA.

Alexa Grasso FAQs

1. Who is Alexa Grasso?
   Alexa Grasso is a professional mixed martial artist from Mexico who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She is best known for becoming the first Mexican born woman to win a UFC championship (2023).
2. What weight class does Alexa Grasso fight in?
   Alexa Grasso competes in the UFC women’s flyweight division, which includes fighters weighing up to 125 pounds (56.7 kg).
3. When did Alexa Grasso make her UFC debut?
   Grasso made her UFC debut on November 5, 2016, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale, where she earned a unanimous decision victory over Heather Jo Clark.
4. How did Alexa Grasso become the UFC Flyweight Champion?
   She captured the UFC Flyweight title on March 4, 2023, at UFC 285 by submitting long reigning champion Valentina Shevchenko in the fourth round, marking one of the biggest upsets in women’s MMA history.
5. What is Alexa Grasso’s fighting style?
   Grasso is known for her crisp boxing technique, precise footwork, and strong defensive movement. Over time, she has also developed a dangerous submission game, particularly from her back.
6. Where is Alexa Grasso from?
   Alexa Grasso was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, a city known for its strong martial arts culture and passionate sports community.
7. What gym does Alexa Grasso train at?
   She trains at Lobo Gym MMA in Guadalajara, where she works under head coach, uncle, and mentor, Francisco Grasso.
8. How did Alexa Grasso start her MMA career?
   Grasso began training in mixed martial arts as a teenager, inspired by her family’s long involvement in combat sports. She quickly rose through Mexico’s regional circuits before signing with Invicta FC and later the UFC.
9. Has Alexa Grasso faced Valentina Shevchenko more than once?
   Yes. After defeating Shevchenko for the title, the two fought again in a highly competitive rematch on September 16, 2023, at Noche UFC, which ended in a split draw. They are fierce rivals and each other’s biggest nemesis.
10. What impact has Alexa Grasso had on MMA in Mexico?
    Alexa Grasso’s success has inspired a new generation of Mexican fighters, particularly women, to pursue MMA. Her championship victory was a landmark moment for combat sports in Mexico, solidifying the nation’s growing presence in the UFC.