By Canadian Press

Canada’s Gillian (The Savage) Robertson rallies for second-round UFC submission

Sep 17, 2022 | 4:22 PM

LAS VEGAS — Canadian flyweight Gillian (The Savage) Robertson survived a first-round onslaught to submit Kazakhstan’s Mariya (Demonslayer) Agapova on a UFC Fight Night card Saturday.

The 27-year-old native of Niagara Falls, Ont., who makes her home in Port Saint Lucie, Fla., absorbed a string of elbows to the head as she tried to take Agapova down at the fence in the opening round. But she rallied in the second round to lock in a rear-raked choke that prompted referee Mark Smith to halt the bout at two minutes 19 seconds of the round.

All three judges scored the first round for Agapova, who had a 39-4 edge in significant strikes in the round according to UFC Stats. 

But Robertson tripped Agapova to the ground 45 seconds into the second round and eventually took her back and applied the choke. Agapova, who had lost her mouthguard, appeared to be losing consciousness when the referee stepped in.

“I knew she was going to come in there trying to kill me. But I knew that it’d be mine in the end,” said Robertson.

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Robertson (11-7-0), rebounding from a decision loss to T.J. Aldrich in July, improved to 8-5-0 in the UFC with her eight wins tied for third in UFC flyweight history behind Valentina Shevchenko and Katlyn Chookagian (both on eight). Robertson’s seven finishes and six submissions are the most in UFC flyweight history.

Agapova (10-4-0) has now lost two straight and three of her last four.

The main event at UFC Apex production facility pitted American Cory (Sandman) Sandhagen (14-4-0), ranked fourth among UFC bantamweight contenders, against No. 10 Yadong (Kung Fu Kid) Song (19-6-1 with one no-contest) of China.

Also on the main card, Alberta heavyweight Tanner (Bulldozer) Boser (20-8-1) faced Brazil’s Rodrigo Nascimento (8-1-0 with one no-contest).

Robertson, one of one two Canadian women in the UFC, was initially slated to fight Melissa Gato on the card but the Brazilian withdrew due to injury, according to the UFC.

Agapova and Robertson had trained together in the past but are now with different gyms.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2022

The Canadian Press