Manon Fiorot has already determined what a win over Alexa Grasso ought to result in.“I feel the winner of this struggle would be the subsequent one for the belt,” Fiorot instructed TimesofIndia.com forward of her flyweight bout in opposition to Grasso at UFC Noche on September 13 at Glendale, Arizona. “I am fairly positive the winner on Saturday night will struggle for the belt within the subsequent struggle.”The title image had modified simply days earlier than Fiorot’s struggle. On September 5, the UFC introduced that Valentina Shevchenko had vacated the ladies’s flyweight championship after telling the promotion she can be unable to compete for not less than a 12 months.Shevchenko had been scheduled to defend the belt in opposition to No. 1 contender Natalia Silva at UFC 332 on October 3, however her damage compelled that struggle to be scrapped. Shevchenko is anticipated to return and compete for the title as soon as she is wholesome.The vacant belt will now be contested by Silva and Wang Cong within the UFC 332 major occasion in Salt Lake Metropolis. Silva is 8-0 within the UFC and has gained 14 straight fights, together with her latest run together with victories over former champions Rose Namajunas and Grasso, in addition to former title challenger Jessica Andrade.
Shevchenko’s exit modifications the title image
For Fiorot, ranked No. 2, the change has made the route to a different title alternative look shorter.The 36-year-old French fighter is 13-2 as knowledgeable and 8-1 within the UFC. Her solely UFC defeat got here in opposition to Shevchenko in a five-round determination at UFC 315 in Might 2025, after Fiorot had opened her UFC profession with seven straight wins. She returned 5 months later and stopped Jasmine Jasudavicius in 1:14 of the primary spherical.
Fiorot has additionally overwhelmed Namajunas and former title challenger Erin Blanchfield throughout her UFC run.“Sure, I feel it is higher for me,” Fiorot stated of Shevchenko’s departure. “As a result of it would permit the entire class to struggle extra. And I feel I’ll have the title struggle extra shortly than if it was Valentina. I might have needed to await Valentina if she had gained in October.”The fast hurdle although is Grasso, the No. 3 contender and former UFC ladies’s flyweight champion.The 33-year-old Mexican enters with a 17-5-1 skilled report. She turned champion in March 2023 after submitting Shevchenko with a fourth-round face crank. Their rematch six months later led to a cut up draw earlier than Shevchenko regained the belt with a unanimous determination of their third assembly in September 2024.Grasso then misplaced a unanimous determination to Silva at UFC 315. She returned in March this 12 months with a first-round stoppage of Maycee Barber, placing herself again among the many division’s main contenders.And that bout piqued Fiorot’s curiosity.“Within the high 5, she is the one woman I have never fought once more,” Fiorot stated. “So after her nice efficiency in opposition to Maycee, I feel it is time. It is a good alternative for us to struggle collectively.”
Fiorot sees nobody forward of her
Fiorot’s personal case for an additional title alternative rests on the opponents she has already overwhelmed. Requested what argument she would make for being subsequent quite than the winner of the Silva-Wang title struggle, she was direct.“As a result of I’ve overwhelmed all of the contenders within the division. So I do not see who else can struggle for the belt.”For now, although, Fiorot is resisting the temptation to look past Grasso.
“To be trustworthy, I strive not to consider it an excessive amount of,” she stated. “For now, I am actually targeted on the struggle with Alexa.”“Sure, that is what [title shot] I would like and what I would really like, however I strive not to consider it an excessive amount of. For now, I am targeted on Saturday. And after, now we have time to dream about it and give attention to it. That is my aim. However proper now, I am fascinated with Alexa and that is it.”
Fiorot has had nearly 11 months to organize since her final struggle. The Jasudavicius stoppage lasted just one:14, leaving little time to see the modifications she had been engaged on throughout that interval.“I labored on a variety of issues, however I will not say every little thing now,” Fiorot stated. “However I hope I can present you a bit extra in opposition to Grasso. I labored on a variety of abilities and issues, however, to be trustworthy, I can not speak about them within the interview due to the sport plan and the technique. However I hope to point out extra and to point out all my abilities Saturday night.”The lengthy hole between fights, she stated, gave her time to work on areas that may not obtain the identical consideration throughout a traditional struggle camp.“Sure, it allowed me to enhance on a variety of issues,” Fiorot stated. “As a result of while you prepare for a struggle, you prepare particularly for a struggle. So I used to be capable of work on a variety of issues throughout all these months.”“And sure, I feel I am even higher right this moment. Undoubtedly, I feel I am a a lot better fighter now than 11 months in the past.”
A French MMA wave closing in on UFC gold
Fiorot can also be a part of a robust group of French fighters pushing towards the highest of the UFC. Ciryl Gane is the promotion’s interim heavyweight champion and No. 1 heavyweight, Nassourdine Imavov is ranked No. 3 at middleweight, whereas Benoît Saint Denis is No. 6 at light-weight.Requested whether or not youthful French fighters now see her as a reference level, Fiorot was unequivocal.“Sure, clearly. The French fighters are clearly rising. We’re very near the belt.”“So sure, I feel it is good for the French MMA scene and for all of the younger people who find themselves coming. Undoubtedly, I feel the hype of French MMA is huge and it is a good factor for each fighter, each French fighter.”Watch NOCHE UFC – Rodriguez vs Silva on September 13, 2026, from 2:30 AM IST reside on Sony Sports activities Ten 2 SD & HD, Sony Sports activities Ten 3 SD & HD (Hindi), Sony Sports activities Ten 4 SD (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada) & Sony LIV.