Alice Ardelean narrowly lost her UFC debut despite going the distance with Shauna Bannon at UFC 304 in Manchester.
Ardelean was branded as the promotion’s “worst signing ever” ahead of this weekend’s event due to her social media stardom, with certain fans questioning her abilities in the cage altogether. Taking to X, one MMA fan wrote of the prospect: “The UFC signing Alice Ardelean is a disgrace to the promotion. Probably the worst signing ever and I’m not joking. Ardelean isn’t a fighter, she’s a TikTok star.”
They added: “She’s won her last five but against who? Such a shame that the best promotion in the world isn’t caring about ‘best in the world’ talent.” While the Romanian fighting out of Birmingham’s Fearless MMA boasts over three million followers on TikTok and has an OnlyFans page, she also has a wealth of experience to back up her fighting prowess.
She headed into the opening fight of the night on Saturday evening riding a coveted five-fight winning streak – with victories over the likes of Dilia Suyapa, Jessica Mouneimne and Jenny Line – as well as with an overall record of 9-5. And Bannon was aware that she had to take her opponent seriously heading into their bout.
Speaking to The Mirror earlier this week, the Irish superstar said: “I think she has fight in her. I think she’s game – she’s not afraid to get hit, she’s not afraid to bite down on her gum shield and go. I think she has a bit of experience as well I suppose. She’s 9-5 so she’s had a good few MMA fights at professional level.
“And yeah, anyone that’s willing to get in the cage, to lock the cage and fight… anything can happen in there do you know what I mean? I have to take her seriously and go in there and perform.”
(
Getty Images)
Bannon was caught early on with a stiff left, deciding to keep Ardelean at range with looping and poking leg kicks. However, her opponent would close the distance with 3.30 left in the first round, pushing Bannon to the cage before securing a takedown. While Ardelean was happy to hold top position, Bannon would continually threaten with triangles and armbars from her back, with her coaches confident she had done enough to secure the round.
Bannon would land a clean flurry of ones and twos midway through the second round, forcing Ardelean backwards, but she would ultimately sweep her opponents back, pin her to the cage once more and secure another takedown with around a minute to go. Straight into side control, Ardelean landed a number of nice elbows, before securing a bulldog choke while looking to take Bannon’s back – but the opportunity never arrived. More than likely 1-1 going into the third and final round.
Holohan Martial Arts alum Shauna would show more of the same as the third opened up, keeping her opponent at range with long side kicks to the body, mixing it up with a flush right hand and a knee which received a smile of acknowledgement from Ardelean. Both fighters looked fatigued by the midway point of the round, with Bannon continually looking for blitzes and Ardelean looking for a check hook which never came.
With three rounds in the bag, the two met either side of referee Mike Beltran to hear the judges’ decisions – with Bannon atoning for her defeat to Bruna Brasil in her UFC debut last July with a split decision win over Ardelean.
Learn more
TNT Sports gives you access to games across the Premier League, Champions League, Europa League, Serie A and many more. You can also watch the biggest clashes in boxing, UFC, WWE and the get exclusive action from MLB all for one payment every month. You can watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
