The UFC 212 co-main event pitted recent strawweight title challengers Claudia Gadelha and Karolina Kowalkiewicz against each other, with the winner hoping for another crack at Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s belt. In front of her home fans in Brazil, Gadelha turned in an excellent showing and submitted her foe in the opening round.
The fight began with some closely contested striking exchanges, with both women finding success on the inside. Gadelha took Kowalkiewicz down off the body lock, took her back, and went for the rear-naked choke. The right forearm was underneath the chin and Kowalkiewicz was forced to tap out. Once it got to the ground, it was not even a contest.
Official result: Claudia Gadelha def. Karolina Kowalkiewicz by submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:03 of round 1
Gadelha picks up her first finish in the UFC, while Kowalkiewicz has now lost two straight, but there’s no shame in losing to the top-two fighters in the division.
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