In an unusual turn of events at UFC Vegas 100, Brazilian star Luana Pinheiro has expressed her strong disapproval of opponent Gillian Robertson’s controversial use of newly legalized 12-6 downward elbows during their November 9th bout.
Robertson, who secured a unanimous decision victory, implemented the recently permitted technique in an unexpected manner during a grappling exchange where Pinheiro was positioned head-down against the cage.
“I definitely felt it there. Excuse my language, but she elbowed my a*us,” Pinheiro told Ag.Fight. “To me, that’s disrespectful. I’d never do that to another athlete. She’s a woman competing there, you know? I’m there because she’s there, we’re chasing the same dream. So it’s only fair to respect your opponent.”
The Brazilian athlete claims the strikes have left her with lingering physical issues. “I’m on strong meds. Today’s the last day I’ll take them,” she explained. “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?”
The 12-6 elbow rule was only recently lifted ahead of the UFC’s return to Edmonton on November 2nd. While Cody Gibson became the first UFC athlete to legally utilize downward elbows against Chad Anheliger, Robertson’s application of the technique has sparked debate about potential new regulatory considerations.
Gillian Robertson 12 to 6 elbowing Pinheiro's…ass? 😂 #UFCVegas100 pic.twitter.com/nNVmGPvyrM
— Steven Rae (@stevenrae_) November 10, 2024
Pinheiro maintains the strikes were intentional rather than incidental. “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.”
The incident adds another layer to their existing rivalry, which began when Robertson accused Pinheiro of “stealing” her signature red competition attire, forcing her to wear black instead.
