UFC all-time women’s submission record holder Gillian Robertson took on Polyana Viana in a strawweight bout at UFC 297, looking to extend her record.
Brazilian fighter Polyana Viana had her own plans as she looked to take out one of the longest tenured veterans in the UFC’s female divisions and earn the biggest win of her career, but it was not to be as Robertson dominated with her skillful wrestling and grappling. Robertson faced the challenge of evening the score for her country, as Canadians were 1-2 when her name was called, and she more than lived up to that expectation.
After setting it up with her boxing, Gillian Robertson shot for a takedown and landed it in the first minute. She established a powerful half-guard position and looked for submissions while staying heavy on top. Gillian used her free foot to extricate her other leg and pass to the dominant full mount position. Then she expertly stepped off of mount in pursuit of an arm-triangle. Viana kicked and bucked and created just enough room to escape, but Robertson took her back. She was slick as she transitioned back to full mount and then to an armbar. Viana stacked Gillian and then slam her, creating just enough space to free her arm and take top position briefly before the round ended.
They spent more time on the feet in the second round but Robertson still shot for a takedown and landed it one minute in with a snatch single leg. She again used half guard to advance to a more dominant position and then fluidly passed between full mount and back mount depending on how Viana twisted. Gillian rained down smashing elbows and Viana’s resistance began to grow weaker. She could eventually only turtle up before the onslaught and the referee stepped in.
Robertson drew attention to the fact that this was her second ever TKO in the sport, and that both have come in her home country of Canada. With her tenth win in the UFC, Gillian called to fight a ranked opponent again in her next fight, as she has flirted with being a top-15 fighter for years and is in good form at 3-1 in her last four.
Official Result: Gillian Robertson def. Polyana Viana by TKO (grounded elbows) Round 2, 3:12
