Alexa Grasso issues statement on tough, first-round submission loss to Tatiana Suarez

Alexa Grasso’s battle with The Ultimate Fighter 23 winner Tatiana Suarez, which headlined the UFC’s Saturday night debut in Santiago, Chile, did not go the way she planned. Instead, the Mexican strawweight was taken down and submitted by her American adversary in the very first round.

Shortly after this loss, Grasso took to Instagram to issue a statement. Here’s what she had to say.

http://www.instagram.com/p/BjBSl-EhExW/

“We like to talk about when we are doing well, when everything is beautiful and perfect,” Grasso said in her post (translated from Spanish). “But I know it’s also good to show the side that nobody likes, those moments that make us take a bitter drink. Last night I lost to a killer in round 1, and I almost fell asleep! Life is like that, like a big bet. I was offered this fight and my first reaction was to tell my coaches ‘of course, we have to take big challenges, because these opportunities prepare us as never before, and [we must] face them in the best way.”

“Two things are certain: you win or lose, but * NEVER * WATCH HOW TIME GOES BY DOING NOTHING AND NOT HAVING TRIED IT!,” Grasso continued. “That’s why I’m here, that’s why I’ve come here: to compete among the elite of MMA. I do not have any injuries, all I want is to return to the gym to train, and correct my mistakes. That’s how an athlete’s heart heals! Thanks to all my team for taking care of me and supporting me through the good and not so good ones. This only fills me with energy and forces me to be better. I love you and I thank you all for your messages of love, it’s very nice.”

With this loss, Alexa Grasso returns to the loss column after a split win over Randa Markos. She’s now 10-2 overall.

This article first appeared on BJPenn.com on 5/21/2018.