Dione Barbosa absolutely owned the octagon in Oklahoma City on Saturday, snatching a submission victory over Anna Melisano with a standing rear-naked choke at the 4:04 mark of Round 1. It was a dominant performance that left no doubt.
Melisano’s Rough Octagon Debut
Talk about a rude welcome to the big show. Anna Melisano, who came up short as the No. 1 pick on this season of “The Ultimate Fighter” reality series, just got another massive setback. Dione Barbosa wasted zero time bringing the fight to her world in the grappling department. She locked in that nasty standing rear-naked choke, and that was it. Four minutes and four seconds into the first round, it was all over. Melisano’s official UFC record now sits at 0-1, adding to a tough stretch for the fighter with a 6-2 overall MMA record. Getting tapped out in your debut, especially after all the TUF hype, is a brutal pill to swallow.
Barbosa Rides a Two-Fight Win Streak
On the flip side, Dione Barbosa is absolutely riding a wave right now. This win pushes her overall record to 10-4 MMA, 4-2 in the UFC. Even better, it’s her first two-fight winning streak since she joined the promotion back in May 2024. She’s been on an up-and-down stretch, but this dominant performance signals she’s found her rhythm. After the fight, she was pumped, telling Daniel Cormier, “I’m so happy. It doesn’t matter who, where , any time. I will be ready to put on a show. I’m happy to be here in Oklahoma. Thank you so much.” That’s exactly the kind of confident, ready-for-anything attitude you want to see from a fighter building serious momentum.
So, what’s next for these two warriors after UFC Fight Night 281? Barbosa is clearly ready to keep putting on a show, and with her first two-fight streak, the division better be watching what she does next. For Melisano, going 0-1 in the UFC after the ‘Ultimate Fighter’ hype is a tough start, and she’ll be itching to prove herself in her next bout. The octagon never sleeps, and neither should you if you want to catch the next chapter for these fighters. It’s only getting more intense!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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