Canada’s Gillian Robertson found herself in the biggest fight of her career at UFC Des Moines, taking on #9 ranked Marina Rodriguez.
The Brazilian had flirted with a title shot in the past, while Robertson entered the bout ranked #12 and eager to move up the divisional ladder.
It took Robertson, known for her ground game and holding the women’s submission record in the UFC, all of 90 seconds to get the fight to the mat. To that point, it had been single strikes exchanged; Robertson was quickly into side control, then in half guard, hammering Rodriguez’s body with elbows. A kimura attempt would follow, then more elbows. That led to Robertson improving her position and adding some short punches to the head, at all times fully controlling Brazil’s Rodriguez. Marina, miles away from the fence, looked lost at her back, unable to create space or scramble free.
Following well over three minutes of top time in the opening frame, Gillian Robertson went right back to the ground in the second. A single leg takedown go the bout down, and attempting to defend with a choke got Rodriguez nowhere. And this time, Robertson was able to put the fight away. From top, as Marina Rodriguez rolled faced down, she rained down a deluge of ground n’ pound from mount, eventually forcing the ref to come in and make the save! A dominant showing from Robertson, who will no doubt move up a few spots in the rankings early next week.
Canada cracks the Top 10! Take a bow, 🇨🇦 @Savage_UFC! #UFCDesMoines pic.twitter.com/iWJ2n8xaGv
— UFC Canada (@UFC_CA) May 4, 2025
The victory is the fourth straight for Robertson, who then called for a fight with ex-title challenger Amanda Lemos. Rodriguez, who stripped off her gloves following the loss, announced her retirement following the bout, saying she was going to auction off the gloves from her final fight for charity. The Brazilian then asked UFC President and CEO Dana White, and matchmaker Mick Maynard, to add their support.
Official Result: Gillian Robertson def. Marina Rodriguez by TKO, Round 2, 2:07
