UFC Noche: Manon Fiorot beaten by Alexa Grasso, the Nice fighter denied another title shot

Manon Fiorot will not compete for a new UFC women’s flyweight world title. The fighter from Nice lost on points at UFC Noche in Arizona against Mexican Alexa Grasso in the early hours of Sunday, with scores of 29-28, 29-28, 29-28. A knockdown in the first round weighed on the judges’ decision.

Manon Fiorot was supposed to beat Alexa Grasso in Arizona at UFC Noche to get another shot at the title after her loss to Valentina Shevchenko in May 2025. Ranked number 2 in the world in UFC women’s flyweight, the fighter from Nice was facing her closest pursuer, ranked number 3.

The Mexican quickly imposed her rhythm in the octagon. Very aggressive from the opening seconds, Alexa Grasso landed numerous strikes and put Manon Fiorot in difficulty both at distance and in the clinch. The French fighter gradually found her bearings thanks to her footwork and kicks.

But the first round changed in its final seconds. Just as the exchanges were beginning to even out, Alexa Grasso landed a right hook that sent Manon Fiorot to the ground. The fighter from Nice quickly recovered and sought to control her opponent to minimize the damage.

The statistics from the first round confirmed the Mexican’s advantage, with 36 significant strikes compared to 29 for the French fighter.

Manon Fiorot finds her weapons but falls short on points

The second round showed a different side of Manon Fiorot. More active and more precise in managing distance, the fighter from Nice used her kicks to contain the Mexican’s advances. A combination with a jab, a high kick and then two jabs notably allowed the 36-year-old fighter from Nice to land cleanly.

Alexa Grasso continued to advance and apply pressure nonetheless. A cut appeared above her right eye, while the exchanges became increasingly contested. The second round thus allowed Manon Fiorot to regain confidence after a difficult first round.

The third round confirmed this upturn. More mobile and more varied in her combinations, the fighter from the Côte d’Azur relied more on kicks to keep her opponent at distance. The timings were better controlled and the clinch exits faster.

The Mexican began to show signs of fatigue in the final round. Manon Fiorot continued working and landed with her rear hand in the final seconds. Despite this strong finish, the judges’ decision did not go in the fighter from Nice’s favor.

Alexa Grasso ultimately prevailed by unanimous decision, with three identical scorecards of 29-28. The Mexican thus earns the ticket for the next title fight.

For Manon Fiorot, this defeat represents another setback in her quest for the UFC title. The fighter from Nice was coming off a knockout achieved in under one minute thirty against Canadian Jasmine Jasudavicius last October and had prepared for this meeting at the Tristar Gym in Montreal.

With this loss, Manon Fiorot sees another opportunity to become the first French UFC world champion slipping away. The fighter from Côte d’Azur will now have to rebuild a path to the belt following this points loss to Alexa Grasso.