A UFC fighter has revealed the aftermath of a recent fight, where she was elbowed in the “anus”.
There are many ways to win a fight in the UFC… but elbowing someone in the anus is probably bad sportsmanship.
Brazilian UFC strawweight Luana Pinheiro was on the receiving end of exactly that type of attack during her fight against Gillian Robertson on November 9 at UFC Vegas 100, per GiveMeSport.
Pinheiro, who lost the match by unanimous decision, revealed that an illegal move by her opponent left her with a lingering injury that has impacted her daily life.
Pinheiro explained that a series of 12-6 elbows – strikes that were illegal in MMA until recently – landed in her lower back and buttocks, with one specifically targeting her “anus”.
She described the incident as both physically agonizing and disrespectful, alleging that one of the strikes occurred after the bell had rung to end the first round.
Luana Pinheiro told @AgFight about… that elbow… 🥴 pic.twitter.com/jieLj1Excy
— Drake Riggs (@DrakeRiggs_) November 26, 2024
In an interview with Ag.Fight, the 31-year-old Brazilian did not hold back her criticism of Robertson’s conduct during the match.
“I definitely felt it there. Excuse my language, but she elbowed my anus,” Pinheiro said. “To me, that’s disrespectful. I’d never do that to another athlete. She’s a woman fighting there, you know? I’m there because she’s there, we’re chasing the same dream.”
UFC fighter Luana Pinheiro is still in pain and isn’t happy with the opponent who injured her when she delivered “disrespectful” 12-6 elbows to her anus during their fight earlier this month.
“In my view she did it maliciously, with bad intentions.”https://t.co/1VPUVDvpSa pic.twitter.com/wMyFWYt5Rh
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) November 27, 2024
Pinheiro accused Robertson of acting with malicious intent.
“It’s not a move to submit or knock me out, it’s not like that. In my view, she did it maliciously, with bad intentions. Not just during the round, but after the bell she did it again,” she claimed.
Pinheiro’s injury has proven to be more than just a temporary setback. Weeks later, she is still dealing with severe discomfort, relying on medication and cushions to alleviate her pain.
“I’m on strong meds. Today’s the last day I’ll take them,” she said. “I can’t sit without a cushion or bend my back. I can’t exert much force because I feel it there. At first, I couldn’t walk, cough, or laugh properly. Sneezing was agony, I felt like I was dying, you know?”
Pinheiro expressed frustration in the aftermath of the fight, explaining that the injury had disrupted her ability to perform even basic tasks.
“It wasn’t the heat of the moment. She knew where she was hitting, you know?” she added.
In a post shortly after the match, she shared an uplifting message about perseverance and gratitude.
“If that was your will, my God, even without understanding, I accept and trust!” she wrote. “Thank you for life and for living it the way I always dreamed of. The martial art was the path that I chose for my personal evolution. So I accept and thank you with open arms.”
Pinheiro concluded by thanking her supporters, calling them a blessing during a difficult time.
