Mariya Agapova
Division: Women’s flyweight
Result: Mariya Agapova def. Hannah Cifers via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:42
Record: 9-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC
Grade: A
After missing out on a contract following her defeat to Tracy Cortez on Dana White’s Contender Series, Kazakhstan’s [autotag]Mariya Agapova[/autotag] claimed a pair of first-round finishes in all-female promotion Invicta FC to earn her spot on the big stage. And at UFC on ESPN 10, the 23-year-old took her chance with both hands as she claimed another first-round finish to defeat Hannah Cifers via submission on her UFC debut.
Despite the nature of the finish, it was Agapova’s striking that stood out as she showed off her slick boxing skills early, connecting almost at will on Cifers as she let fly with her fast, accurate hands in the early exchanges. She then started to mix knees into her attack as the pair closed the distance and fought from the clinch.
Agapova’s dominance of the standup eventually paid off when she connected with a huge head kick that dropped Cifers and sparked the sequence that eventually ended the fight. Cifers gamely bounced back to her feet and looked to clinch, but was clearly rocked, and Agapova took advantage. The Kazakh fighter moved to Cifers’ back, locked up a body triangle and sunk in a rear-naked choke as she dragged Cifers to the mat and forced the tap.
It was a dominant performance that showcased Agapova’s superb striking skills and gave a glimpse of her submission abilities as she created an opening for the finish, then took it clinically to claim a hugely-impressive debut victory.
After a performance like that, it’s hard not to be excited for what might be in Agapova’s future at 125 pounds.
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