Ardelean began with a strong, aggressive offense, landing combinations that nearly dropped Viana in the first round. In the second, the Romanian fighter unexpectedly took Viana down, then became ensnared in a triangle choke with Viana's legs wrapped around her body. As Ardelean sat up, Viana screamed in pain and tapped the mat, signaling submission.
Slow-motion video revealed Ardelean secured the win with a rare "capsule lock," also known as a knee joint lock. This submission is executed when a fighter is caught in a triangle choke around their opponent's torso. The fighter applies body weight or hand pressure to hyperextend the opponent's knee joint. This twisting force can cause torn ligaments and knee cartilage.
Alice Ardelean (in black) defeated Polyana Viana with a capsule lock submission at UFC Fight Night 276 in Nevada, US on 16/5. *Video: UFC*
When the referee signaled the fight's end, Ardelean rose with an expression of joy and surprise. The submission, a first in UFC history, quickly created a buzz within the mixed martial arts (MMA) community.
In a post-fight interview with former fighter Daniel Cormier, Ardelean revealed she first encountered the submission in an Instagram video and later practiced it in the gym. She stated, "I used this move as a backup plan because I noticed Viana often applied a tight triangle choke to opponents. I am also not very skilled at ground fighting. I executed it successfully and made history".
MMA Fighting praised Ardelean, stating she deserved the "Submission of the Year" title.
MMA Junkie described the outcome: "Viana appeared to surrender after a strange finish".
The bout between Ardelean and Viana, contested in the women's strawweight category (under 52 kg), served as the opening fight for the event held at the Meta Apex arena in Nevada, US, this morning, Hanoi time. Both fighters were born in 1992.
Before the match, Ardelean held a professional MMA record of 11 wins and seven losses, including two consecutive UFC victories. Viana's record stood at 13 wins and eight losses, with three consecutive UFC defeats prior to this bout. This fourth consecutive loss will likely conclude the Brazilian fighter's UFC career.
Compiled by Trung Thu
