Quick Facts
Biography
Karen Alexa Grasso Montes (born August 9, 1993), better known as Alexa Grasso, is a Mexican mixed martial artist who competes in the flyweight division. She is currently signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). As of June 16, 2020, she is #12 in the UFC women's strawweight rankings.
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Grasso made her professional MMA debut in December 2012 in her native Mexico.During the first eighteen months of her career, she amassed an undefeated record of 5 wins (3 by TKO, 2 by decision) and 0 losses.
Invicta FC
After taking a year away from the sport, Grasso made her Invicta FC debut on September 6, 2014 against Ashley Cummins at Invicta FC 8.She won the fight via unanimous decision.
In her second fight for the promotion, Grasso faced Alida Gray on December 5, 2014 at Invicta FC 10.She won the fight via TKO in the first round.
Grasso next faced Mizuki Inoue on February 27, 2015 in the co-main event at Invicta FC 11. She won the fight by unanimous decision.The bout also earned Grasso her first Fight of the Night bonus award.
Grasso was expected to challenge Livia Renata Souza for the Invicta Strawweight Title at Invicta FC 14 on 12 September 2015 but was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
On August 11, 2016, it was announced that Grasso had signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). She faced Heather Jo Clark on November 5, 2016 at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson in Mexico City, Mexico. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Grasso next faced Felice Herrig on February 4, 2017 at UFC Fight Night 104. She lost the fight by unanimous decision.
On August 5, 2017, Grasso faced Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno. Grasso suffered from a UTI Infection and was medically advised to stop cutting weight and be placed on antibiotics, as a result she came in at 119 lbs, three pounds over the strawweight limit and was fined 20% of her purse that went to Markos. The bout proceeded at a catchweight. Grasso won the fight via split decision.
Grasso faced Tatiana Suarez on May 19, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 129. She lost the fight via a rear-naked choke in round one.
Grasso was scheduled to face Angela Hill on August 25, 2018 at UFC Fight Night 135. However, Grasso was pulled out from the bout on July 19, 2018 due to knee injury.
Grasso was expected to face Marina Rodriguez on February 2, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 144. However, it was reported on December 17, 2018 that Rodriguez pulled out of the event due to a hand injury. The pair was rescheduled to UFC on ESPN 2. However, on March 22, 2019 it was reported Grasso was injured and she was replaced by Jessica Aguilar.
Grasso faced Karolina Kowalkiewicz on June 8, 2019 at UFC 238. She won the fight by unanimous decision.
Grasso faced Carla Esparza on September 21, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 17. She lost the fight by majority decision.This fight earn her the Fight of the Night award.
Grasso was scheduled to face Cláudia Gadelha on January 18, 2020 at UFC 246. However, on the day of the weigh-ins, Grasso weighed in at 121.5, 5.5 pounds over the non-title strawweight limit of 116 lbs. The NSAC decided to remove the fight because competitors are not allowed to compete if the weight between them is over 3 pounds. In a statement released just hours after the weigh-ins, Grasso apologized for missing weight, and declared she will now be fighting at flyweight.
Move up to flyweight
Grasso was scheduled to face Ji Yeon Kim on June 27, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Poirier vs. Hooker. However, due to travel restrictions for both fighters due to COVID-19 pandemic, the bout was rescheduled on August 29, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 176.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Carla Esparza
- Second most significant strikes thrown in a fight (369)
- Invicta Fighting Championships
- Fight of the Night (one time) vs. Mizuki Inoue
- Performance of the Night (one time)
Mixed martial arts record
| Professional record breakdown | ||
| 14 matches | 11 wins | 3 losses |
| By knockout | 4 | 0 |
| By submission | 0 | 1 |
| By decision | 7 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 11–3 | Carla Esparza | Decision (majority) | UFC Fight Night: Rodríguez vs. Stephens | September 21, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 11–2 | Karolina Kowalkiewicz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 238 | June 8, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 10–2 | Tatiana Suarez | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 1 | 2:44 | Santiago, Chile | |
| Win | 10–1 | Randa Markos | Decision (split) | UFC Fight Night: Pettis vs. Moreno | August 5, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | Catchweight (119 lbs) bout; Grasso missed weight. |
| Loss | 9–1 | Felice Herrig | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Bermudez vs. Korean Zombie | February 4, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 9–0 | Heather Jo Clark | Decision (unanimous) | The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 3 Finale: dos Anjos vs. Ferguson | November 5, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Mexico City, Mexico | |
| Win | 8–0 | Jodie Esquibel | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 18: Grasso vs. Esquibel | July 29, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Performance of the Night. |
| Win | 7–0 | Mizuki Inoue | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 11: Cyborg vs. Tweet | February 27, 2015 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States | Fight of the Night. |
| Win | 6–0 | Alida Gray | TKO (punches) | Invicta FC 10: Waterson vs. Tiburcio | December 5, 2014 | 1 | 1:47 | Houston, Texas, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Ashley Cummins | Decision (unanimous) | Invicta FC 8: Waterson vs. Tamada | September 6, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Karina Rodríguez | Decision (unanimous) | Xtreme Kombat 20 | August 31, 2014 | 3 | 5:00 | Izcalli, Mexico | |
| Win | 3–0 | Alejandra Alvarez | TKO (punches and knees) | Xtreme Kombat 20 | August 31, 2014 | 1 | 0:36 | Izcalli, Mexico | |
| Win | 2–0 | Lupita Hernandez | KO (punch) | Fight Hard Championship 3 | May 11, 2013 | 1 | 0:12 | Jalisco, Mexico | |
| Win | 1–0 | Sandra del Rincon | KO (punch) | GEX: Old Jack's Fight Night | December 19, 2012 | 1 | 0:15 | Jalisco, Mexico |