Jaqueline Amorim scored a first-round submission win over Vanessa Demopoulos during the prelims of UFC Vegas 97 at the Apex in Las Vegas on Saturday.
Still, it will be interesting to see if the former’s victory stands.
Immediately after Demopoulos was forced to tap out from Amorim’s armbar, the former complained to the referee. Demopoulos accused Amorim of grabbing the insider of her glove to maintain an advantageous position on the ground–which is illegal.
As it turns out, Demopoulos was correct. Take a look at the finish here:
Grappling expert and X personality Josie Aldo chimed in with a screenshot that captures Amorim’s illegal tactics in preventing Demopoulos from escaping the guard.
Others on social media seemed to agree with Aldo, and some discussed the possibility of the fight being ruled a no-contest.
Amorim was officially ruled the winner, and the result was not altered even after the referee watched the replay. The result didn’t change after an impromptu meeting between the commission, Herb Dean, and Jacob Montalvo, who Alex Behunin of MMA Mania captured.
After the fight, Amorim denied grabbing her opponent’s glove. “I just have a look on the big screen,” Amorim told the media following the fight. “From the angle I looked, it didn’t look like I was holding. I was holding over the gloves, like together, not inside. But maybe I will look later. My corner said they looked, but it wasn’t. I heard they said the commission was looking, and they said it was fine, and nothing was holding. For me, it was fine; I have a clear conscience.”
Amorim’s win improved her record to 9-1, and it was her third straight. Her record in the UFC is now 3-1, and she has earned a stoppage victory in every fight. There are times when a controversial ending leads to an immediate rematch, but I doubt the UFC would do that for a preliminary fight on an Apex card.
Even if the fight result is changed to a no-contest, Amorim will likely move onward and upward while Demopoulous will remain in the same spot or perhaps drop.
She’s 5-2 in the UFC. Here is a look at all of the results from UFC Vegas 97.
UFC Vegas 97 Main Card Results
- Sean Brady defeats Gilbert Burns via unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46)
- Natalia Silva defeats Jessica Andrade via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
- Steve Garcia defeats Kyle Nelson via TKO at 3:59 of Round 1
- Cody Durden defeats Matt Schnell via submission at 0:29 of Round 2 (Anaconda Choke)
- Yanal Ashmouz defeats Trevor Peek via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
UFC Vegas 97 Preliminary Card Results
- Chris Padilla defeats Rongzhu via TKO at 4:14 of Round 2 (Doctor stoppage – Eye Injury)
- Isaac Dulgarian defeats Brendon Marotte via submission at 4:19 of Round 2 (Arm Triangle)
- Andre Lima defeats Felipe dos Santos via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
- Gabriel Santos defeats Yizha via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-27)
- Jaqueline Amorim defeats Vanessa Demopoulos via submission at 3:28 of Round 1 (Armbar)
- Andre Petroski defeats Dylan Budka via unanimous decision (30-27×3)
- Nathan Fletcher vs. Zygimantas Ramaska via submission at 1:14 of Round 2 (Arm triangle)