Luana Pinheiro won herUFC strawweight match Saturday when her opponent was disqualified.- Pinheiro was deemed unfit to continue after absorbing an illegal kick to the jaw.
- Her coach carried her out of the arena and she was transported to a local hospital.
A 27-year-old won her first UFC bout in bizarre fashion after her opponent was disqualified for landing an up kick to the jaw.
The impact of the shot sent Luana Pinheiro backward until she collapsed onto the canvas in apparent agony.
Pinheiro scored an unlikely victory at the four minutes and 16-second mark of round one.
Watch the errant foul here:
-Jed I. Goodman (@jedigoodman) May 2, 2021
"I think we're seeing a little bit of um, what do you call that … acting," the UFC commentator Paul Felder could be heard saying during the broadcast, in a statement he later retracted.
The bout was in danger of being called off even before the up kick when Pinheiro caught Markos with an eye poke.
An Octagonside medical official assessed Markos' eye and as she said she could see well enough to continue, the bout continued.
Later, with the bout moving to the ground, Pinheiro - who earned an instant UFC contract in 2020 after putting her opponent down and out with impressive, rapid-fire fists - absorbed the up kick flush to the face when she was on her knees.
Press row reporter Helen Yee filmed Pinheiro getting carried out of the arena by her coach.
-Helen Yee (@HelenYeeSports) May 2, 2021
She was then taken to a local hospital for precautionary reasons, according to MMA Fighting reporter Damon Martin.
With the victory, Pinheiro advanced her pro
Saturday's defeat was the fifth in Markos' last six fights.