WATCH: UFC rivals Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko face off at NCAA women’s final four game

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko can't resist a face off at the NCAA women's Final Four game.

WATCH: UFC rivals Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko face off at NCAA women’s final four game

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko face off at the NCAA women's final four game (via Imago/Instagram)

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko can’t resist a friendly faceoff at the NCAA women’s Final four. They may be bitter rivals in the octagon, but all seemed friendly and calm between the two elite fighters. This is a rare occurrence in the MMA world, and fight fans cherish it.

The two UFC flyweight stars were spotted courtside at the NCAA Women’s Final Four tournament. The duo took a few moments to engage in a lighthearted faceoff ahead of the big game. The video also showed Shevchenko recording herself and Alexa Grasso. She talked about watching the ‘badass women’ in the Final Four. Grasso then asked the viewers not to miss the much-anticipated UFC 300 event.

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The duo’s budding friendship only continues to blossom. It’s hard not to appreciate the camaraderie between the two rivals. In a sport known for its intense rivalries and bad blood, Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko’s playful back-and-forth is a refreshing change of pace.

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But make no mistake, Grasso and Shevchenko will be anything but friendly when stepping into the cage. The two flyweight stars will clash in a trilogy bout later this year. The past two fights saw Alexa Grasso get the better of Shevchenko. The first one saw Grasso choking out Shevchenko. The second one ended controversially with Grasso retaining her title via a controversial draw. As such, Shevchenko wants to redeem herself and regain the flyweight title.

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko remain respectful despite rivalry

The UFC is filled with rivalries and drama to the brim. However, being friends and rivals at the same time is quite rare. This seems to be the case with Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko. Despite their rivalry, they just can’t resist being good-natured to each other.

Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko reamin friendly
Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko remain friendly (via MMA Fighting)

Make no mistake, they talk trash ahead of and after their first two fights. However, unlike any other rivals, they have prioritized to show respect to their rival. Grasso and Shevchenko have been the epitome of cordiality towards each other. This was evident during their media tour leading up to their stint as coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 32. Their latest public display of affection at the NCAA Women’s Final Four game once again showcased their respect for each other.

Something is refreshing about how Grasso and Shevchenko have managed to keep their rivalry respectful. Rivalries like Colby Covington – Jorge Masvidal, Khabib Nurmagomedov and Conor McGregor could have all had a respectful tone. However, they chose to go ahead without showing any respect to their opponent. After all, this is a job, and the person you are fighting is not your enemy, just an opponent. Hence, the Grasso vs. Shevchenko rivalry remains a breath of fresh air.

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