EXCLUSIVE
‘I’ll try to watch’ – Alexa Grasso honoured to be fighting at UFC 306 on the same day as ‘role model’ Canelo Alvarez
Alexa Grasso is excited about going head-to-head with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez.
The UFC flyweight champion will put her belt on the line in a trilogy fight with Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 306, which will take place at the Las Vegas Sphere on September 14.
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On the same night, in the same city, Canelo will defend his WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight belts against Edgar Berlanga at the T-Mobile Arena.
Mexican Independence Day has always been a go-to date for Alvarez when he fights, but UFC CEO Dana White vowed to challenge him with a yearly show to mark the occasion.
As a result, fight fans will have to choose between MMA and boxing in a couple of weeks’ time.
Some see the clash as unfortunate, but Grasso is excited about going head-to-head with one of her compatriots, who she considers a ‘role model’.
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After her UFC 306 co-main event, she’s hoping to watch Canelo’s fight backstage.
“I’m a big fan of him, he’s been a big role model in my career,” she told talkSPORT MMA in an interview facilitated by her sponsor .
“We are from the same town - he was born in Guadalajara too.
“He has a lot of impact there in society with kids and sports.
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“So, imagine fighting the same day as him. It’s amazing!
“If I have time, as soon as my fight ends, I’m going to try to watch his fight."
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Grasso grew up watching legendary Mexican boxers fight on the date.
Now she gets to replicate them as a female MMA star on a show White has promised will be the ‘greatest live combat sports event anybody has ever seen’.
Grasso said: “It’s really cool. Mexican Independence is a big day for Mexico.
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“Big day! We love to celebrate that day and it’s really cool that it’s known for boxing, mostly. They do great fights with fighters from Mexico, with someone so big.
“It’s inspiring. I always dreamed to be on a card like this. Last year it happened, this year it is gonna happen again. This is something the UFC said they are gonna keep [doing].
"I’ve seen Canelo doing this. I’ve seen [Juan Manuel] Marquez doing this. I’ve been watching all these amazing, huge boxers fight on this date.
"Now, being able to be there doing the same thing in MMA, as a girl - it’s big. It’s inspiring. It’s really huge for me."
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