A History-Making Performance

Last Saturday’s UFC Vegas 117 event featured a moment of unprecedented technical innovation. During her bout against Polyana Viana at the UFC Meta Apex, Alice Ardelean executed a rare submission maneuver that had never been seen before in the promotion's history. For Ardelean, a fighter who prides herself on her striking, the victory felt both surreal and entirely characteristic of her unconventional style.


The Power of Improvisation

Speaking about her performance, Ardelean admitted that grappling was not her primary strategy. “My plan was to strike. I'm a striker. I do like grappling, but I'm very awkward when it comes to submissions,” she shared. Despite this, she had mentally prepared for a backup scenario. The inspiration for the move came from a video she had watched on social media nearly two years prior. After improvising the technique during training camps with teammate Phil Rowe, she decided to deploy it when Viana pulled her into a tight body triangle.


“I told one of my teammates, Phil Rowe—we were drilling, he helped me out a bit with this camp. After we drilled, I'm like, 'Yo, listen, I have this backup, just in case. I have this secret move.' I showed it to him,” Ardelean explained.

Breaking Down the Move

The submission functioned as a modified calf slicer. Ardelean pulled Viana’s heel inward, using the pressure to create a painful fulcrum point. Although Viana initially resisted due to her flexibility, Ardelean adjusted her approach on the fly:

  • Initial attempt: The pressure was applied, but Viana managed to wiggle out.
  • The adjustment: Ardelean grabbed the leg and pulled it across her body to tighten the triangle.
  • The result: The refined pressure forced the tap, securing a historic win.

Overcoming Physical Adversity

The victory is even more remarkable considering Ardelean entered the octagon with a torn meniscus, an injury sustained seven weeks before the fight. She recalled having a premonition about the injury during an overtraining session, despite warnings from her teammates to stay positive. Having also dealt with a corneal scratch during the match, the Romanian fighter is now prioritizing recovery before considering her next move.


A Blue Belt’s Perspective

Reflecting on her journey, Ardelean remains humble about her grappling credentials, jokingly noting her status as a blue belt. “My grappling sucks,” she admitted. “I’m a striker and it’s me that did that weird submission. I don't really submit people. I'm getting submitted 15 times per minute. But if I do catch somebody, it's definitely a very weird move.” Now on a three-fight winning streak, Ardelean has solidified her reputation as one of the most unpredictable athletes in the division.