For the second straight time, Marina “The Iron Woman” Moroz played the role of spoiler on Sunday night at Kunlun Fight 8 in Xining, Qinghai, China. The Ukrainian rising star submitted China’s top female fighter, Jin “The Fighting Rose” Tang, in round one of a featured flyweight bout on the card.

Moroz, who upset highly-touted prospect Feier Huang in her Kunlun Fight debut in June, survived an early onslaught from Tang on Sunday and took top position in a scramble on the mat. She then transitioned to a straight armbar that forced Tang to submit for only the second time in her career.

Moroz (3-0-0) opened the action with punches and a body kick in round one, but Tang (19-6-3) caught the kick and tripped her to the ground. Tang postured up with punches and looked to set up an armbar, but the fighters fell through the ropes and the fight was restarted in centre ring. Tang moved to mount and attempted another armbar, but she lost the position and Moroz wound up on top in the process.

Tang remained active from her back and she tried for a third armbar and a heel hook. Moroz escaped both times, however, and she took mount seconds later. From there, Moroz wasted no time in locking on a tight armbar that had Tang in some trouble. Tang refused to submit, so Moroz switched to a straight armbar and bent Tang’s left elbow back around her thigh. Tang tried to hold on, but she could not escape the hold and tapped out at the 3:46 mark.

Sunday’s victory was Moroz’s biggest win to date and her second straight first-round finish. All three of her pro MMA wins have come by way of submission including her June victory over the heavily-favoured Huang. Tang had won four fights in a row this year prior to Sunday’s defeat.

Winner: Marina Moroz by Submission (Straight Armbar) at 3:46 of round one. She improves to 3-0-0.

(Photo Credit: Sherdog.com)