At home in Australia for the first time in years, desperately in need of a need, Megan Anderson made the most of her opportunity against Zarah Fairn dos Santos at UFC 243.
Megan Anderson, to say the least, had had a rocky start to her UFC career ahead of UFC 243. The former Invicta FC featherweight champ was brought into the promotion as a foil for Cris Cyborg. It was a pairing nearly every fight fan wanted to see — but Anderson came up short against Holly Holm in her debut. She won a follow-up fight against Cat Zingano, but it came due to a toe poke to the eye. A third fight with fellow Invicta champ Felicia Spencer saw Spencer submit the Australian, taking Anderson’s shot at Cyborg, who had already been dethroned by Amanda Nunes.
At UFC 243, with Cyborg having departed the promotion, Anderson was simply looking to get back in the win column, against promotional newcomer Zarah Fairn dos Santos.
Dos Santos came out firing, forcing Anderson back. The Australian then clinched and reversed dos Santos against the fence, leading to a grappling exchange. Zarah peppered Anderson with punches during this battle, but it was Anderson getting the fight to the ground. In mount, she had Dos Santos trapped, and tried to create enough space to land some elbows. When she did manage to sneak one through, Anderson opened up her opponent. Dos Santos tried to buck Anderson off and scramble free, to no avail. However, she would manage to power up, only for Anderson to drag her down, going to her back and trapping Zarah in a triangle. That was tight, and Dos Santos was forced to tap!
Megan Anderson first round SUBMISSION! @MeganA_MMA gets the first round finish in front of the home crowd! #UFC243 pic.twitter.com/7Y0ujCfVKW
— UFC (@ufc) October 6, 2019
Without question, Megan Anderson’s best win in the UFC to date, and in her first fight in Australia since 2014.
Official Result: Megan Anderson def. Zarah Fairn dos Santos by submission (triangle), Round 1, 3:57
