Polyana Viana Mota made no mistake in her debut at UFC Belem, submitting Maia Stevenson early.
Following a stint on The Ultimate Fighter 26 where she competed at flyweight, Maia Stevenson dropped down to 115lbs for her UFC debut against Polyana Viana Mota in Brazil on Saturday. At UFC Belem, she entered enemy territory for both her first UFC fight, and first bout outside the country. Stevenson, however, was well-traveled, as she trotted the globe throughout husband Joe (winner of TUF 2) Stevenson’s own career.
Opponent Polyana Viana was also making her promotional debut on the night.
Mota opened up with a right hand and a quick takedown. She then tied up the arm of Stevenson, working for an arm-bar. Stevenon was bloodied, and trapped under the legs of Mota, who was able to add hammer fists while Stevenson tried to wiggle free. Mota stretched the limb out, but Stevenson was able to angle her way out of danger and make it to her feet. There, however, she found herself in a front headlock, looking to fend off knees. Stevenson threw one of her own, but a leg trip took her back down. Polyana had her stacked back up, working in more ground and pound before Stevenson gave up her back. Once that happened, the finish was almost a formality.
Polyana Viana slipped her arm under Maia Stevenson’s neck, and locked in the rear-naked choke. That elicited the tap, and that was all she wrote!
Polyana Viana def. Maia Stevenson by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 3:50
