Grasso Vs. Barber Rematch Being Planned

Former UFC flyweight champ Alexa Grasso and Maycee Barber are reportedly set to rematch at UFC Seattle on March 28.

The bout is expected to take place at the Climate Pledge Arena, as Grasso won the first encounter by a unanimous decision. This rematch carries massive title implications for a division currently ruled by Valentina Shevchenko. For Grasso, this fight is an opportunity to snap the first back-to-back losing streak of her 13-year career.

After her historic title upset of Shevchenko in 2023, Grasso lost the belt in their trilogy bout and subsequently dropped a decision to Natalia Silva in May 2025. Grasso was originally scheduled to face Rose Namajunas at UFC 324 on January 24, 2024. However, an injury prevented that. Barber enters the rematch on a seven-fight winning streak. She defeated Karine Silva UFC 323 via unanimous decision on December 6, 2025. 

The Approach

In the rematch, expect Grasso to catch Barber coming in with hooks and straight rights, much like she did in their first fight. Grasso’s success depends on maintaining the range where she can reach Barber. Barber, conversely, thrives on volume. Tactically, Barber won’t try to out-box Grasso at range; she will use calf kicks and feints to force Grasso against the fence. Her goal is to turn a technical kickboxing match into a gritty, high-paced dogfight.

Grasso will likely use the clinch defensively, looking for “Thai plumbs” to land knees or using “underhook-and-turn” maneuvers to escape the fence. Expect Barber to initiate the clinch often, using her shoulder and head position to wear down Grasso’s gas tank. She will likely hunt for the double-leg takedown against the cage. Grasso’s biggest hurdle will be managing the pace. To win, she must be economically efficient with her movement, ensuring she doesn’t burn out.