So far, Polyana Viana, or “Dama de Ferro” in her home of Brazil, is a Brazilian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the strawweight division of the UFC. She is known for her impressive submission skills tied in with fierce striking to become one of the most dangerous ladies in her class. The story of Viana is one of resilience, will, and adaptation to the ever-challenging realm of mixed martial arts, a product of a career that brought her through the system via gradual rise.
Early Life and Introduction to MMA
Polyana Viana was born on June 14, 1992, in the state of Pará. She started training in MMA a bit later than others. After training in BJJ, her core discipline when it comes to fighting, her interest in combat sports developed. Her professional debut came in 2013, and she quickly took to the sport as one would want, with most of her early wins coming via submission.
UFC Debut and Rise
Viana made her UFC debut on February 3, 2018, at UFC Fight Night 125 and submitted Maia Stevenson via rear-naked choke in the first round. That win showed how adept she was at finishing fights off early-a trend that has held throughout her career to date. So far, Viana has secured a total of 12 first-round finishes, something quite remarkable, really, and further showcases her capability to end the fights swiftly and in a decisive manner. While her striking game is more secondary compared to her submission prowess, it too happens to be a rather potent weapon. Of her 14 career wins, five of them have come via knockout underlining her versatility as a fighter in equal measure.
Fight Style: Submission Master
The most patent strength in Polyana Viana’s skillset would have to be her grappling. Of her 14 career wins, eight have come by way of submission, and six of those are via armbar-the move that has become her signature. Having a BJJ background enables her to easily control opponents on the ground, moving swiftly to transition to secure submission holds with much precision.
However, that is not all when it comes to her fighting style: Viana also possesses respectable striking accuracy at 41%, and a significant strike rate at 2.99 strikes per minute, making her an all-around competitor who can trade blows when need be.
Recent Career Highlights
It has indeed been a game of wins and losses for Viana these last few years. Her most striking performance was against Jinh Yu Frey in November 2022. Viana managed to knock out her opponent within 47 seconds of the first round. She received a bonus of “Performance of the Night”, showing just how capable she is of knocking someone out. Yet, 2023 was somewhat of a down year for Viana. Nonetheless, Viana remains one of the tough outs in the division.
Life outside the cage: Her Viral Moment
The most famous moment in the life of Viana outside the octagon was when, in 2019, she managed to fend off a would-be mugger in Rio de Janeiro. The story went viral after it was revealed the man had attempted to rob her, having no idea what she did for a living. Viana’s swift and efficient reaction stopped not only the attacker but also brought upon her a lot of unwanted attention and fame outside the MMA world. The end result has forever cemented Viana’s status as a real-world “Iron Lady,” embracing the sort of courage and fearlessness that have come to define her both in and out of the octagon.
Polyana Viana: Recent setbacks and what’s to come for the Brazilian
The results of Viana’s last fights have been on a rollercoaster. She was stopped with strikes by Gillian Robertson in the second round this past January 2024, which was a tough beginning to a year that followed an already tough 2023. She lost to Iasmin Lucindo in 2023. Of course, that just may have set her on a difficult path, but Viana has shown to be resilient before and usually emerges from rough periods full of life in her career.
While Viana is still a big figure in the division-a record that shows her ups and downs, having won nine of her last 15 fights and only three of her last six-her particular skill set made her a threat against anybody, especially in the submission game.
What’s next for Polyana Viana?
Coming into 2024, Viana is looking to sharpen her skills and recover from back-to-back losses. The next couple of fights for her will, in all likelihood, be very important to define her path in the UFC. Her ability to finish fights-especially in the first round-continues to give her an edge that few can match, and if she can firm up a tighter defense and continue improving on her striking, Viana could easily find herself again rising through the rankings.
Cause of Death of Rich Piana
This is where Rich Piana came in, the famous bodybuilder and social star who died in the year 2017. According to reports, he died due to heart disease, to which his consumption of anabolic steroids more than likely contributed. Rich Piana was one of those people who were very open to steroids and extreme fitness regimens, but his death just proved how precarious that kind of lifestyle may be.
In conclusion
With her time in the UFC, Polyana Viana has seen incredible successes and challenges. With her aggressive submission game and determination that has carried her through tough periods, she is a fighter to keep an eye on in the coming years. Whether it’s bouncing back from losses or making headlines outside of the cage, Viana remains true to the spirit of the sport.
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