Alexa Grasso is a Mexican professional mixed martial artist who competes in the women’s flyweight division of the UFC, where she is the current UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. She is also a UFC analyst for UFC Español for Spanish broadcasts.
Mario Lopez is an American actor and television host who has appeared on several television series, in films, and on Broadway. He is known for his portrayal of A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, Saved by the Bell: The College Years, and the 2020 sequel series. He has also hosted various popular shows, such as Extra, Access Hollywood, Dancing with the Stars, and The X Factor.
Many UFC fans have been curious about the relationship between Alexa Grasso and Mario Lopez since the latter posted a picture of himself at the UFC 285 event, where Grasso defeated Valentina Shevchenko to become the new flyweight champion. While there is no direct familial connection between the two, let’s delve into their backgrounds and see if they share any commonalities.
Family and Ethnicity
Alexa Grasso was born on August 9, 1993, in Guadalajara, Mexico. She comes from a family of martial artists, as her father and uncle are both black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and her cousin is also a professional MMA fighter. Grasso started training in boxing at the age of 15 and later added jiu-jitsu and wrestling to her arsenal. She made her professional MMA debut in 2012 and has since amassed an impressive record of 16 wins and 3 losses.
Mario Lopez was born on October 10, 1973, in Chula Vista, California. He is of Mexican descent, as his parents are both immigrants from Mexico. His father was born in Culiacán, Sinaloa, and his mother in Tijuana, Baja California. Lopez started dancing at the age of three and later learned tumbling, karate, and wrestling at his local Boys and Girls Club. He also excelled at wrestling in high school, where he placed second in the San Diego Section competition and seventh in California his senior year. He graduated in 1991.
Although there is no apparent familial relationship between Alexa Grasso and Mario Lopez, they do share some commonalities in their ethnic backgrounds. They are both proud of their Mexican heritage and have expressed their support for each other on social media.
Career and Achievements
Alexa Grasso began her MMA career in Mexico, where she fought for various promotions such as Xtreme Kombat and Xtreme Fighters Latino. She then signed with Invicta FC, an all-female MMA organization based in the United States, where she won four fights in a row and earned a title shot against Livia Renata Souza for the strawweight belt. However, she had to withdraw from the fight due to injury.
Grasso made her UFC debut in 2016 against Heather Jo Clark, whom she defeated by unanimous decision. She then faced Felice Herrig, Randa Markos, Tatiana Suarez, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, Carla Esparza, Ji Yeon Kim, Maycee Barber, and Valentina Shevchenko in her subsequent fights. She won six out of nine bouts and became the first Mexican woman to win a UFC title when she dethroned Shevchenko by split decision at UFC 285 on March 4th, 2023.
Mario Lopez began his acting career in 1984 when he appeared as younger brother Tomás in the short-lived ABC comedy series a.k.a. Pablo. He then starred as a drummer and dancer on Kids Incorporated for three seasons. In 1989, he was cast as A.C. Slater on Saved by the Bell, a role that made him famous among teenagers and young adults. He reprised his role on Saved by the Bell: The College Years and the 2020 sequel series. He also appeared in numerous other TV shows and movies, such as Colors, Pacific Blue, The Bold and the Beautiful, Nip/Tuck, Holiday in Handcuffs, The Expanding Universe of Ashley Garcia, and Feliz NaviDAD.
Lopez also ventured into hosting various TV shows throughout his career. He hosted Pet Star on Animal Planet from 2002 to 2005; America’s Best Dance Crew on MTV from 2008 to 2012; Extra from 2008 to 2019; Access Hollywood from 2019 to present; The X Factor from 2012 to 2013; Dancing with the Stars from 2006 to present; Candy Crush from 2017 to present; H8R from 2011 to present; Masters of Illusion from 2014 to present; Beat Shazam from 2017 to present; and Saved by the Bell: The Reunion from 2020 to present. He also competed on the third season of Dancing with the Stars, where he finished second with his partner Karina Smirnoff.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Alexa Grasso and Mario Lopez may not be related, they share certain commonalities in their ethnic backgrounds. They are both successful Mexican-Americans who have achieved remarkable feats in their respective fields of MMA and entertainment. They have also shown mutual respect and admiration for each other on social media, where they often congratulate each other on their victories and accomplishments. They are both inspiring examples of hard work, dedication, and talent.
