Marion Reneau overcame early adversity in the form of Sara McMann’s wrestling prowess to battle back and secure a second round submission at UFC Orlando.
At UFC Orlando on Saturday, former UFC women’s bantamweight title challenger and Olympic wrestler Sara McMann was looking to bounce back from a loss to Ketlen Vieira that snapped her three fight win streak. Opposite her in the octagon was the always tough Marion Reneau, still finding UFC success at age 40.
McMann was the clear favorite. But the fight did not go as she planned.
Reneau held the center of the cage early, but Olympic medalist McMann wasn’t afraid to come inside, throwing combinations. She used her striking to set up a takedown, going back to her bread and butter. On the ground, McMann quickly passed to side control. From there she landed a number of right hands, then briefly trapped Reneau in a crucifix. Marion Reneau bucked out, but McMann was able to get her in a crucifix a second time, adding more punches. What wasn’t happening, to the midway point of the round, was Reneau having any luck escaping. Instead, McMann worked to isolate an arm, and when that failed, she went back to her right hand. That’s how Reneau finished the round: trapped in the crucifix, eating blow after blow.
In round two, Reneau kept the fight standing, and managed to clip and drop McMann about ninety seconds in. That right hand kicked off a wild brawl with McMann shooting but failing to secure the takedown, only to be clipped again. Reneau was doing a much better job fending off takedowns, and McMann was hurt. However, her wrestling instincts took over, and she took Reneau down — only to find herself caught in a triangle. McMann held on, eating elbow after elbow, but as Reneau tightened the hold and rolled to her side, Sara McMann was forced to tap, giving Marion Reneau the biggest win of her career!
Marion Reneau def. Sara McMann by submission (triangle), Round 2, 3:40
