Alexa Grasso (image via YouTube/UFC)

By FCF Staff

The UFC has announced it will celebrate Mexican Independence Day with a September 16th event, as well as the card’s headliner and co-main event.

Recently, UFC President Dana White announced that the upcoming card will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and that flyweight champion Alexa Grasso will rematch former champ, Valentina Shevchenko in the main event.

Mexico’s Grasso (16-3) shocked the MMA world in March, by submitting Shevchenko (23-4) in round four to end her reign. The Russian fighter hadn’t been defeated since 2017, when Shevchenko lost via split decision to Amanda Nunes.

In addition, White confirmed that Kelvin Gastelum is returning to the welterweight division after competing at middleweight for years. Gastelum will do so against the highly touted, rising contender, Shavkat Rakhmonov.

Gastelum (17-8), who is of Mexican descent, hasn’t competed at welterweight since 2016. In April, the former TUF winner recorded a decision win over Chris Curtis.

Khazakstan’s Rakmonov (17-0), meanwhile, is coming off a third-round, submission win over Geoff Neal in March.

The September 16th card is not scheduled as a pay-per-view event.