Suddenly finding herself in the spotlight thanks to a feel-good story of apprehending a would-be mugger, Polyana Viana has been booked against Hannah Cifers at UFC 235.
Never underestimate the importance of popularity in the “sport” of MMA. With her profile at an all-time high thanks to a widely-reported story of her dispatching a would-be mugger recently, Polyana Viana has been added to the UFC 235 card. There, the Brazilian strawweight will take on Hannah Cifers, whose gritty performance against Maycee Barber at UFC Denver showed plenty of heart even while it was sometimes hard to watch.
ESPN’s Brett Okamoto was first to report the news. Viana has been all over the media in recent days, after the mugger story hit the mainstream press. For those that missed it, Viana wound up bludgeoning then restraining the robbery suspect before trapping him in a rear-naked choke. While he had cautioned the fighter that he was carrying a concealed weapon, that turned out to be a cardboard gun. The photos tell the full story.
Never bring a cardboard gun to an MMA fight.
Viana (10-2) will now look to bounce back from a loss to JJ Aldrich. Overall, the Brazilian is 1-1 in the UFC, having won her debut against Maia Stevenson at UFC Belem. Hannah Cifers (8-3), meanwhile, is seeking out her first UFC win. The soft-spoken fighter was a short notice replacement against Barber in Denver, and should benefit from a full training camp this time out.
UFC 235 takes place March 2 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, NV. The card is expected to be topped by Jon Jones vs. Anthony Smith. Assuming Jones can get licensed in Nevada.
