Manon Fiorot has been confirmed as the backup fighter for the UFC 306 co-main event between women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champ Valentina Shevchenko, scheduled for September 14 in Las Vegas.
UFC 306’s co-main event has its official contingency plan.
Top flyweight contender Manon Fiorot is set to serve as the backup fighter for the trilogy bout between UFC women’s flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champ Valentina Shevchenko. This highly-anticipated fight takes place on Sept. 14 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Sources close to the situation confirmed the news to MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin on Friday.
Fiorot’s coach Aldric Cassata had previously spilled the beans to Boxemag.com about Fiorot’s opportunity. But now, it’s officially official.
Fiorot, 34, is ranked No. 3 among female flyweights globally by MMA Fighting. She’s also the No. 4 ranked women’s pound-for-pound fighter. The French contender boasts a flawless 7-0 record under the UFC banner, with notable wins over top talents like Erin Blanchfield, Rose Namajunas, Katlyn Cerminara, Jennifer Maia, and Mayra Bueno Silva.
Grasso and Shevchenko are set to clash for a third consecutive time. Their rivalry kicked off in March 2023 when Grasso shocked everyone with a fourth-round submission win over Shevchenko. They faced off again this past September, ending in a controversial split draw at the inaugural Noche UFC show.
Adding fuel to the fire, Grasso and Shevchenko coached opposite each other on the recent season of The Ultimate Fighter 32. The winners will be decided this Saturday at UFC Vegas 96.