Looking back at UFC 276 in 2022, the event kicked off with a particularly brutal submission victory. The festivities marked the 10th edition of International Fight Week and proved to be one of the most memorable.
UFC 276 at T-Mobile Arena featured notable moments like Alex Pereira`s knockout win over Sean Strickland and Alexander Volkanovski`s dominant title defense against Max Holloway. However, the action started right from the beginning with a fight that left viewers unsettled.
Julija Stoliarenko Was ‘Too Polite’ Before Brutally Injuring Opponent at UFC 276
Before the preliminary card even got into full swing, the event began with a women`s bantamweight bout between Julija Stoliarenko and Jessica-Rose Clark. Stoliarenko, known for her grappling, quickly secured an armbar on Clark. While Clark tapped out, the damage was already done.
Within the first minute, Stoliarenko applied a deep armbar. Despite Clark tapping frantically, the referee`s delay allowed the hold to remain cinched, resulting in a gruesome dislocated elbow for the Australian fighter.
Following the fight, Stoliarenko, who faced criticism for the outcome, justified holding the submission by stating she had been “too polite” in previous bouts and decided not to hold back at UFC 276.
She explained her mindset, saying she had previously been “too polite” with submissions in both jiu-jitsu and MMA, which caused issues. Therefore, she now aims to “snap it through all one movement” because, in her words, “This is our game, we should do that stuff.”
Jessica-Rose Clark Criticized Julija Stoliarenko for Holding Onto UFC 276 Submission
Jessica-Rose Clark later updated her supporters in a video after being released from the hospital. She confirmed she would require surgery to fix the injury, attributing the severity to Stoliarenko not immediately releasing the hold upon her tap.
Clark stated, “She did a really good job of continuing to armbar me after I tapped.” While accepting the reality of the situation (“it is what it is”), she expressed being “heartbroken” despite feeling she had prepared correctly.
Clark eventually returned to competition ten months later but was submitted by Tainara Lisboa in the third round at UFC Charlotte. Following her departure from the UFC, the fighter has since achieved consecutive wins in Muay Thai and recently debuted successfully in a Dirty Boxing event.
