Shevchenko made her UFC debut in 2015 and has won 12 of her 15 UFC fights, losing to former two-weight champion Amanda Nunes twice before her recent defeat against Grasso, when she lost the flyweight title.

Mexico's Grasso halted Shevchenko's historic reign at UFC 285 in March.

Shevchenko had been champion since beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk for the vacant title in December 2018, becoming just the second woman to hold the belt after Nicco Montano.

After her record seven successful defences, the defeat by Grasso means Shevchenko embarks on a new chapter in her career in Las Vegas this weekend.

"My mentality has changed," Shevchenko says.

"It's a challenge, yes. I have to work out and fight like I never have before. I had an amazing training camp and in my mind I'm thinking I need to go there and destroy her to get my belt back."

Grasso earned her shot at Shevchenko by winning four consecutive fights, but was regarded as a major underdog.

Shevchenko took the first three rounds on each of the three judges' scorecards and seemed to be on track for another successful defence.

However, Grasso seized her moment late in round four when Shevchenko attempted a spinning back-kick. The Mexican stepped forward, attacked the back, secured a takedown, squeezed tightly across the face of Shevchenko and forced her to submit.

"I have watched the fight back and from round one to round four I was completely winning," Shevchenko says.

"She [Grasso] had one or two successful punches that were caught on camera and everyone was thinking 'oh my god', just watching those shots.

"They weren't watching the full fight - that's not how it was.

"What went wrong? I can say it was MMA. Anything can happen, we are playing a dangerous game and you have to prepare to be ready for everything. You can't relax for one second."

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