UFC BJJ Women's Flyweight Title Ends in Controversial Decision
Despite Adele Fornarino vs. Cassia Moura going the full distance yesterday, the decision just hasn't settled in with the BJJ community.
The new women's flyweight champion is here, albeit not without controversy. Cassia Moura now reigns as the first double UFC BJJ champion, holding both the bantamweight and flyweight straps. That historic win, however, was stained by intense debate from the fans, who saw the clash in a very different light.
Sean Strickland Joins The "Robbery" Debate
Aussie fighter Adele Fornarino faced 20-year-old prodigy Cassia Moura in a fierce, action-packed showdown Thursday at UFC BJJ 12. With the inaugural flyweight belt on the line, the fight went down to the wire. Moura secured a split-decision victory. That has rubbed fans the wrong way.
From the first second of the fight, Fornarino heavily pressured Moura, pulling guard early. One of the match's early highlights came as 'Daddy' locked in a deep straight-ankle lock before pivoting to an inside heel hook, with just 15 seconds left in the round. Moura was in visible agony before being saved by the bell.
The bantamweight champion surprisingly pushed the pace in the last two rounds, despite a compromised leg. An early second-round double-leg takedown and multiple near passes brought the matchup closer, while Fornarino continued with her lethal leg attacks.
The Brazilian also received a stalling penalty from referee Vitor âShaolinâ Ribeiro after a prior action warning. Another trippy situation arrived as Moura accidentally eye-poked the Australian grappler but received no warnings. All these factors contributed to a strong consensus that Fornarino deserved the nod instead.
Even UFC middleweight king Sean Strickland had enough.
"I dont even like bjj and this was a robbery," Strickland commented on the decision. It's not just the UFC star who couldn't see eye-to-eye with the judges' call.
UFC BJJ 12 Decision Ruffles Feathers Among BJJ Fanbase
The official Instagram page of UFC BJJ posted a clip from the match, showcasing Adele Fornarino's highlight reel moment from the first round. Undoubtedly, the BJJ community was quick to spill over in the comment section, pointing out what they saw as a ridiculous decision.
"What match were the judges watching," @thetechnicalgrappler commented.
Another jiu-jitsu athlete added, "Horrifying decision." Meanwhile, hilariously replied, "@berimbozo tearing your knee apart is the new meta to win matches."
One user pointed out the disparity in fight commentary and the actual decision: "Apparently the judges are the only ones who know less about BJJ than the commentators."
"Stalling gets you a victory but adele almost breaking both her feet doesn't count as a significant enough mark to get the win," one wrote.
Another agreed, "Stalls her way to a victory. Multiple stalling calls and zero stalling penalties; nearly gets subbed to only be saved by the bell. I thought UFC BJJ was all about effective action đ§đ¤¨ crazy decision."
One fan simply concluded: "I think that was the biggest robbery Iâve ever seen."
Controversial or not, Cassia Moura still made her case with impressive wrestling and guard passes. The Aussie grappler also stood out with the sole meaningful submission threat. The fight may not have unfolded as some expected, but it still delivered a phenomenal display of elite jiu-jitsu.
