UFC 280: Oliveira vs. Makhachev on October 22 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi was over-stacked with exciting fights and matchups, the event also features two title fights that have the fans’ interest piped. Besides the main event lightweight title bout, the bantamweight title is also up for grabs. However, the opening bout of the evening between Karol Rosa and Lina Lansberg reminded fans of another controversial fight.
Interestingly, both the fighters who were involved in the aforesaid were also featured on the UFC 280 fight card.
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What happened in the opening bout of UFC 280?
After spending two years away from Octagon, Sweden’s Lina ‘Elbow Queen’ Lansberg faced the Brazilian Karol Rosa in the prelims card of the event. Rosa’s reach didn’t work to her advantage in the first round, as a result, she spent the first round with her back on the mat. But come the second round and there was a change in the control and rhythm of the fight.
The Brazilian controlled the second round and while she had the Swede on the ropes, Rosa hit the ‘Elbow Queen’ with a knee. This stopped the fight for a while as the referees decided whether the knee was illegal. But after deliberation and a reduction in points, the fight resumed.
Moves to 5-1 in the UFC with the majority decision!
🇧🇷 @KarolRosaUFC gets the card rolling here at #UFC280. pic.twitter.com/gwZ6W3t6Nd
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 22, 2022
The fight ended with Rosa’s hand raised as she dominated the Swede in the last two rounds. Interestingly, this was Brazilian’s second appearance in Abu Dhabi. After this dominant performance, she would be eyeing a fight at UFC’s upcoming Brazil event.
How did the MMA fans react?
Following this incident, a parallel can be drawn between Rosa’s knee and Petr Yan‘s illegal knee to Aljamain Sterling. As fate would have it, both the fighters featured on the same UFC card, albeit facing different opponents now.
As expected, fight fans knew the knee was illegal.
One fan pointed out, “Very illegal knee.”
Very illegal knee
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 22, 2022
Another user mentioned that the Swede once fought Cris Cyborg, and therefore she wouldn’t quit.
Lina was in the cage with Cyborg. She ain't gonna quit due to an illegal knee if she can continue. #UFC280
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) October 22, 2022
A user mentioned the repercussion of Rosa’s knee.
Point is taken from Rosa for the illegal knee #UFC280
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 22, 2022
Lina was in the cage with Cyborg. She ain't gonna quit due to an illegal knee if she can continue. #UFC280
— Marcel Dorff 🇳🇱🇮🇩 (@BigMarcel24) October 22, 2022
Massive point deduction here with the first round being close.
— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) October 22, 2022
Rosa connects with a hard knee as Lansberg was grounded. The referee has paused the action and called the cageside physician in to check on Lansberg #UFC280
— Sherdog (@sherdogdotcom) October 22, 2022
Looks like a foul from Rosa kneeing Lansberg in face when she was down. #UFC280 Huge knee
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) October 22, 2022
The fighters want to knee each other on the ground. I've seen enough
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 22, 2022
Huge illegal knee from Rosa as Lansberg tries to stand. Ref steps in and stops the action. Might be a point deduction. #UFC280
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 22, 2022
Lansberg's eye all busted up off those late exchanges. Gets a bodylock and looks for the trip. Rosa tries it again too and ends up with Lansberg on the fence. #UFC280
— Bloody Elbow (@BloodyElbow) October 22, 2022
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What do you think of this bout? Let us know in the comments below.
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