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The UFC’s EA Sports Cover Curse Claims Another Victim

UFC The infamous UFC cover curse strikes again. If you’re a football fan, you’re likely familiar with the “Madden” curse…

The infamous UFC cover curse strikes again.

If you’re a football fan, you’re likely familiar with the “Madden” curse where the player featured on the cover of EA Sports’ annual NFL game is doomed to encounter something bad — poor luck, a decline in play, or maybe a serious injury. Over the last decade, it’s become apparent that the curse is not exclusive to players on the gridiron.

On June 3, 2014, EA Sports released its first UFC game in the beloved series and fans immediately noticed the notorious trend when the OG cover athletes, Jon Jones and Alexander Gustafsson found themselves in some unfavorable situations shortly after appearing on the cover. ‘The Mauler’ would go on to suffer a vicious knockout at the hands of the late Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson in his home country while ‘Bones’ ended up testing positive for cocaine and was inevitably stripped of the light heavyweight title following his involvement in a hit-and-run accident in 2015.

The UFC curse would amass quite the victim count in the years that followed, bringing bad luck to megastars Ronda Rousey and Conor McGregor. UFC 4 cover athlete Jorge Masvidal kept the trend going via a nasty knockout loss at the hands of Kamaru Usman as part of a four-fight losing streak that would ultimately see ‘Gamebred’ retire from the sport altogether.

In its most destructive year yet, the still-to-be-released UFC 5 game from EA Sports has already claimed three victims.

– Lost to Sean Strickland
– Drew to Alexa Grasso
– Knocked out by Makhachev

the most brutal cover curse in the history of games #UFC294 pic.twitter.com/Uk0EqUOJWY

— OOC MMA (@oocmma) October 21, 2023

The UFC Cover Curse Claims Three Victims in Six Weeks

Earlier this year, Valentina Shevchenko and Alexander Volkanovski were revealed to be the cover athletes for the game series’ latest entry scheduled to be released on October 27. Since the announcement, Shevchenko fought to a draw with current flyweight world champion Alexa Grasso in September while Volkanovski has lost to lightweight titleholder Islam Makhachev not once, but twice in 2023.

Israel Adesanya, who features as the cover athlete on the deluxe edition of the game, surrendered the middleweight title for the second time in less than a year after losing a lopsided unanimous decision against Sean Strickland at UFC 293.

Of course, Saturday night gave us the most recent example as reigning featherweight champion Alexander Volkanovski came up short for the second time in his bid to become a two-division titleholder. Stepping into the UFC 294 main event on 11 days’ notice, ‘The Great’ suffered a brutal first-round knockout after Islam Makhachev landed a perfectly-timed head kick near the three-minute mark. The ‘Dagestani Destroyer’ followed up the vicious blow with a series of ground-and-pound strikes that ultimately spelled the end of the highly anticipated rematch.

Volkanovski has now lost two of his last three fights and will likely slide to No. 3 on the UFC’s coveted pound-for-pound ranking list behind top-ranked Jon Jones and Makhachev who should slide into the No. 2 spot.

Alexa Grasso undergoes hand surgery, announces plans for third fight with Valentina Shevchenko: ‘I will be ready’

Undisputed flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso has successfully undergone surgery to address a fracture suffered in her right hand, and is already preparing for an expected trilogy championship clash with former titleholder and arch-rival, Valentina Shevchenko. Grasso, the incumbent undisputed flyweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, most recently headlined Noche UFC back in September in an […]

Grasso, the incumbent undisputed flyweight champion and pound-for-pound number one, most recently headlined Noche UFC back in September in an immediate title rematch with Krgysztan native, Shevchenko.

And emerging with her championship belt in tow, Mexican favorite, Grasso retained her title in a hugely-controversial and debated split decision draw with Shevchenko – with the two battling for five rounds.

Scooping the divisional crown in a massive upset victory at UFC 285 back in March in the pair’s co-headliner, Grasso rallied to submit Shevchenko with a third round neck crank, minting herself as flyweight champion for the first time in her organizational tenure.

Alexa Grasso undergoes surgery on fractured hand

Immediately pegged to fight Shevchenko in a trilogy title fight, Grasso has emerged from surgery to address a fracture to her right hand, and has vowed to enter her planned third scrap with the ex-champion fully prepared.

“What are the odds huh?” Alexa Grasso posted on her official Instagram account. “In the fight I fractured my hand, we are used to not letting the pain stop us in anything and although in hurt I didn’t think it was serious until I wanted to go back to training and I realized my hand was still very bad.”

“The surgery was a success thank you very much Doctor Arroyo and Doctor Zarate, you are angels,” Alexa Grasso continued. “I fully trust my healt in your hands #ANDSTILL and I know I will be MEGA ready for that trilogy.”

Who wins in a third fight: Alexa Grasso or Valentina Shevchenko?

Valentina Shevchenko set for surgery on fractured hand ahead of trilogy fight with UFC foe Alexa Grasso

$Valentina Shevchenko set for surgery on fractured hand ahead of trilogy fight with UFC foe Alexa Grasso 1$ UFC flyweight Valentina Shevchenko will now undergo surgery after her recent fight with Alexa Grasso. The rematch between Shevchenko and Grasso concluded in a rather odd draw. It was an unfortunate night for Shevchenko, who was unable to reclaim her 125lb title, and will not be side-lined due to a hand injury. Following the fight, […]

$Valentina Shevchenko set for surgery on fractured hand ahead of trilogy fight with UFC foe Alexa Grasso 2$

UFC flyweight Valentina Shevchenko will now undergo surgery after her recent fight with Alexa Grasso.

The rematch between Shevchenko and Grasso concluded in a rather odd draw. It was an unfortunate night for Shevchenko, who was unable to reclaim her 125lb title, and will not be side-lined due to a hand injury.

Following the fight, Shevchenko revealed via the MMA Hour that she broke her thumb in the very first round of the fight.

“I injured my hand in the first round,” Shevchenko said. “I hit with a cross and it landed on the side and affected my thumb. I could feel it right away, in the first round. That was the reason I could not finish my submission. This affected me to pull my grip. I had the position when I was on her back but I couldn’t close my arm because of the finger. But again, I’m not here trying to find excuses why that happened. If I would try to find excuses, I would say, ‘Oh my God, I broke my finger, I can’t continue the fight.’ But no, I fought four more rounds with a broken finger.” (H/T MMA Fighting)

Shevchenko will now be in a cast for a month, but will also have to have a couple months of no contact before she can get back to a title charge.

What’s next for Valentina Shevchenko?

While Shevchenko definitely would rather get the trilogy matchup, she also seems keen to fight other top contenders to prove her worth.

“If people want to see the trilogy, I’m here and I think it’s deserved as well. If they want to see me move up [in weight], I’m moving up. If they want to see something else, I want to fight anyone, because this is my mindset. I’m not choosing my opponent, I just go and fight,” said Shevchenko.

Valentina Shevchenko on The MMA Hour

Do you wan to see Alexa Grasso Vs. Valentina Shevchenko III?

UFC boss Dana White plans Alexa Grasso – Valentina Shevchenko 3 next: ‘It’s the fight that needs to happen’

Following last weekend’s controversial split draw decision between incumbent flyweight champion, Alexa Grasso and former titleholder, Valentina Shevchenko in the main event of Noche UFC – promotional boss, Dana White has confirmed plans to ink a trilogy fight between the duo next. Taking main event honors on Mexican Indepedence Day, Guadalajara native, Grasso retained her […]

Taking main event honors on Mexican Indepedence Day, Guadalajara native, Grasso retained her undisputed flyweight crown and her status as the pound-for-pound number one, fighting to a split draw decision (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) with Krgysztan native, Shevchenko in the pair’s championship rematch.

In their first pairing, defending champion and division berserker, Shevchenko suffered her flyweight title loss in her first defeat at 125 pounds – with Team Lobo staple, Grasso rallying to land a third round neck crank submission win over the former.

Dana White plans Alexa Grasso – Valentina Shevchenko trilogy fight next

And off the back of a controversial 10-8 round issued by judge, Michael Bell in the favor of Mexican champion, Grasso, organizational CEO, White has backed Shevchenko’s calls for a trilogy fight next – claiming a pairing between the two will take place again.

“You have to do the rematch,” Dana White told assembled media after the Contender Series this week. “We will rematch them [Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko]. It’s the right thing to do. It’s the fight that needs to happen. We’re comfortable with where [Shevchenko is] at as far as he injury. We’re comfortable with it. She’ll probably start striking again in three months, a little less.”

Set to undergo a surgical procedure to address a fractured thumb injury suffered in her rematch with Grasso, Shevchenko claimed that the judge’s Octagon-side at Noche UFC may have felt “pressure” at the event, due to the fact the bout took place on Mexican Independence Day.

“I think it really was 3-2 on my side,” Valentina Shevchenko explained. “But the judges, I think felt a little bit of pressure because it’s Mexican Independence Day. That’s why they give one [round] more to the Mexican fighter.”

Do you want to see Alexa Grasso and Valentina Shevchenko fight again?

Valentina Shevchenko condemns Mike Bell’s 10-8 scorecard: ‘He’s going to live with that mistake forever’

Valentina Shevchenko is still fuming from her controversial split draw against Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC. On Saturday night, fans were treated to an instant classic as the flyweight greats ran back their UFC 285 clash that saw Grasso score a shocking fourth-round submission over ‘Bullet’ to claim the 125-pound title. Unfortunately, the highly entertaining […]

Valentina Shevchenko is still fuming from her controversial split draw against Alexa Grasso at Noche UFC.

On Saturday night, fans were treated to an instant classic as the flyweight greats ran back their UFC 285 clash that saw Grasso score a shocking fourth-round submission over ‘Bullet’ to claim the 125-pound title. Unfortunately, the highly entertaining 25-minute sequel that fans witnessed was quickly forgotten once Octagon announced Bruce Buffer revealed that the bout was ruled a split draw.

The controversy came courtesy of a fifth-round scorecard turned in by Mike Bell who inexplicably scored the final five minutes a 10-8 in favor of Alexa Grasso. Everyone was left dumbfounded by the score, including UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby who couldn’t contain his shock once informed of the result seconds before the live crowd was clued in.

Shevchenko was understandably upset, especially considering the fact that if Mike Bell had scored the round a much more understandable 10-9 in favor of Grasso, ‘Bullet’ would be a two-time flyweight champion. Instead, the division is left in utter chaos due to the ineptitude of one incompetent judge.

“I’m very proud of what I did inside the Octagon and I do know exactly three rounds for certain… Rounds three through five were my rounds,” Shevchenko told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s episode of The MMA Hour. “I won those rounds and from the other side, I think a few things in the fight were completely unfair,” Shevchenko said. “Definitely the scorecard in the final round. In the fifth round, the 10-8. [Judge] Mike Bell did some inexplicable things and I think the whole world would love to hear an explanation. But from the other side, it’s not me. He’s going to live with that mistake forever.”

Valentina Shevchenko Says It’s Only Fair that a Trilogy Bout with Alexa Grasso Takes Place in Kyrgyzstan

Moments after the controversial scorecard was announced, Valentina Shevchenko rubbed many fans the wrong way when she suggested that the Mexican Independence Day setting likely swayed judges to favor Alexa Grasso, who was born in Guadalajara. She echoed those same sentiments during her appearance at the post-fight press event. Speaking with Helwani, ‘Bullet’ believes that in the interest of fairness, the potential trilogy bout should take place in Kyrgyzstan where she would finally have the home-field advantage.

“I think it would be fair and very right to have the next event in Kyrgyzstan on the Independence Day of Kyrgyzstan because it has to be equal,” Shevchenko said. “We cannot do Mexican Independence Day twice, right?”

The UFC has never produced an event in the Central Asian country, but in 2021, the promotion opened a brand new UFC Gym in Bishkek in hopes of seeing a massive growth in the participation of Kyrgyz athletes in mixed martial arts.

Valentina Shevchenko shocked at 10-8 round loss in Noche UFC fight: ‘I couldn’t believe that it happened’

Former undisputed flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko – amongst many others, has been left perplexed by a 10-8 round in favor of opponent, Alexa Grasso, in the fifth frame of their flyweight title rematch at Noche UFC over the course of the weekend. Shevchenko, a former undisputed flyweight champion under the banner of the promotion, fought […]

Shevchenko, a former undisputed flyweight champion under the banner of the promotion, fought Mexican favorite, Grasso to a split draw decision (48-47, 47-48, 47-47) in a heralded title rematch between the two – questionably dropping a 10-8 to Grasso on judge, Michael Bell’s scorecard, resulting in the pair’s split draw judging.

However, many in the mixed martial arts community have disputed the round and judging from Bell, in particular, including Shevchenko, in fact, who even went as far as to boldly claim that the judges in attendance at Noche UFC were likely pressured due to the bout taking place on Mexican Independence Day.

Valentina Shevchenko questions 10-8 round loss in Noche UFC split draw

And in the immediate aftermath of her judging draw, competitive striker, Shevchenko claimed that was entirely surprise to learn she was on the wrong side of a 10-8 round scoring in the fifth frame.

“From my experience, a 10-8 is when one fighter completely cannot do nothing,” Valentina Shevchenko told assembled media after Noche UFC. “It’s like running around waiting, looking for an escape from the Octagon, it’s miserable. In the fifth round, it was, like, four minutes or however many minutes in stand-up, and she (Alexa Grasso) didn’t land one punch. She could only take the back position in the last minute, minute and a half. I don’t remember now. But even there, it was not damage. It wasn’t too much damage to succeed with this 10-8.”

“I couldn’t believe that it happened in this fifth round,” Valentina Shevchenko said of Michael Bell’s scorecard. “It’s a 10-8? It was surprising to me, very surprising.” (Transcribed by Bloody Elbow)

As far as a potential trilogy to settle their rivalry goes, however, Shevchenko may have to weigh-up new opponents, as Grasso has already noted her interest in fresh matchups against the likes of either Erin Blanchfield, or Manon Fiorot next.

Tag: Valentina Shevchenko