Germaine De Randamie may be one of the best strikers in the UFC, but she showed other facets of her game at UFC Fight Island 4 with a third-round guillotine against Julianna Pena.
Julianna Pena was looking to make a statement win against Germaine De Randamie at UFC Fight Island 4. Pena sat out in 2018 due to pregnancy, then returned in 2019 to defeat former flyweight champion Nicco Montano. Heading into the fight, Pena was 5-1 in the Octagon with the only loss coming against current flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
De Randamie, a Muay Thai champion, was 6-2 in the UFC heading into the fight with both losses coming against double-champ Amanda Nunes. De Randamie, the former featherweight champion, had three stoppage victories in the Octagon and was looking to bounce back from the second loss against Nunes.
De Randamie was light on her feet to start the fight as Pena took the center. After a 90 second feeling-out process, Pena leaned in for a punch and De Randamie countered beautifully with a right hand, dropping Pena temporarily. Pena continued to push forward and landed a right while entering the clinch. De Randamie turned it into a Muay Thai clinch and let go, cracking Pena with a jab. De Randamie wobbled Pena with a counter right hand again. Pena darted in with looping shots, but De Randamie avoided any contact. A huge right hand then connected for De Randamie and Pena responded by catching a kick and clinching De Randamie against the cage. After a 30-second clinch battle, Pena got a takedown at the bell.
Pena came out aggressive in round two, bullrushing De Randamie with a combination and cracking her with a left hand. De Randamie obliged the aggressiveness and cracked Pena in the exchange with a heavy right hand. Pena got a hold of De Randamie and tripped her away from the cage. Pena was able to pass the butterfly guard of De Randamie and got to full guard, then postured up. Punches came from the top and the bottom until Pena passed to half guard. Pena tried to secure a choke from half guard, but De Randamie spun out of it and nearly secured a Von Flue choke before the round came to a close.
🇻🇪 @VenezuelanVixen putting on the pressure to start the 2nd!#UFCFightIsland4 on ESPN pic.twitter.com/GQ4my61fAp
— UFC (@ufc) October 4, 2020
Pena tried a head kick early in round three then rushed in with a combination and connected with a pair, but De Randamie answered with a few solid shots. They reset to the center and a looping right landed for De Randamie followed by a pair of uppercuts. Pena shot in and forced a clinch against the cage and was landing knees to the body. Pena kept her pinned as they traded knees. Pena dropped down for a single leg but De Randamie countered with a guillotine choke and Pena went to sleep. A surprising submission victory for the striking expert.
🥋 Not just a striker @IronLadyMMA #UFCFightIsland4 live on ESPN pic.twitter.com/kxea3rHfIf
— UFC (@ufc) October 4, 2020
Germaine De Randamie def. Julianna Pena by Submission (Guillotine) in Round 3 (3:25)
