Sofia Montenegro's highly anticipated UFC debut ended in a brutal defeat at UFC Paris on Saturday night. The 27-year-old fighter faced fellow newcomer Delphine Benouaich in the opening bout of the preliminary card at the Accor Arena.
Despite appearing to have a height advantage, Montenegro struggled against Benouaich's sharp elbows throughout the initial rounds. Benouaich, the hometown favorite, consistently landed strikes, marking up Montenegro's face. With just 38 seconds remaining in the second round, the referee stopped the fight after Benouaich secured a rear-naked choke submission, rendering Montenegro unconscious.
The fight's conclusion left Montenegro's face heavily bloodied and unrecognizable. Following the bout, she was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
Montenegro later took to social media to address the outcome. "Thank you, UFC Paris; thank you, France!" she posted on Instagram. "I won't make excuses; I’ll keep working hard on my mistakes and come back. I held my flag high and returned wrapped in it - sorry, I just don't know how to give up!"
This loss marks Montenegro's second consecutive defeat in mixed martial arts, a stark contrast to her promising career start which saw a 6-1 record.