Viana turned the tables on Whitmire, snatching an armbar after getting put on her back in the early action of Saturday’s fight. She pounded the mat and let out a scream, celebrating her win at the 1:53 mark of the opening frame.
Here’s the finish, which the UFC announced as the fifth-fastest in strawweight history.
ABSOLUTE PRECISION ??
@Polyana_VianaDF locks in the armbar to close in RD 1.
Watch now on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/yuzWVScWgE
— UFC (@ufc) August 29, 2020
The win turned the page for Viana, who’d lost her three previous bouts and was in danger of being cut from the promotion. Although she garnered dozens of positive headlines for beating up a male attacker in an attempted robbery, she was 1-3 when she walked into the octagon against Whitmire. @Polyana_VianaDF locks in the armbar to close in RD 1.
Watch now on @ESPN & #ESPNPlus pic.twitter.com/yuzWVScWgE
— UFC (@ufc) August 29, 2020
In her post-fight interview, Viana tearfully paid tribute to her training partner, who one month ago drowned in an accident, per her manager Alex Davis.
Whitmire has now dropped two straight bouts after a second-round submission loss to Amanda Ribas in her previous outing.
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