UFC bantamweight Jessica-Rose Clark was a victim of Julija Stoliarenko’s nasty armbar submission. The Lithuanian Stoliarenko submitted Clark in just 42 seconds. The pair was scheduled to open the UFC 276 fight card on Saturday.
Following the quick yet brutal loss, Clark said that she spent hours in a Las Vegas hospital with her coach. She also blamed her opponent Stoliarenko for the damage, claiming “she did a really good job of continuing to armbar me after I tapped.”
During the fight, Stoliarenko was able to put Clark in an armbar against after taking her down. Stoliarenko applied the submission and allegedly didn’t break the hold even after the tap until the referee stepped in, resulting Clark’s elbow hyper-extending and her being in need of a surgery.
While this seems like foul play – the referee is actually to blame here in case his reaction was delayed and not Stoliarenko – because had she let go she the fight could’ve potentially gone on as if nothing had happened.
Jessica Rose Clark blamed Julija Stoliarenko for the arm damage – but isn't the referee more culpable with his delayed reaction? pic.twitter.com/sEvqz8nsli
— calfkicker (@calfkickercom) July 5, 2022
“But that’s fine, it is what is,” Clark said in a video posted on Saturday on her Instagram account. “I felt great, I still cried the entire time I was at the hospital, but I feel alright.”
“I am understandably heartbroken, but I did everything right this camp.” Clark continued while sporting a gips on her left hand.
She also added a message for her fans in the caption, saying she might be away from social media for a while, but promised a bigger comeback.
“Every piece of this #UFC276 experience, was everything I ever dreamed of, except for the result. I’m going to be out for a while, letting this elbow heal.”
“I’m not done. Not even close. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love.”
This loss against Stoliarenko marked another submission loss Clark suffered this year, after being submitted by Stephanie Eggar with another armbar last February.
With the loss against Stoliarenko, the Australian is now 4-4 in the UFC run and her record is now 11-8.
Meanwhile, her opponent Stoliarenko finally got her first UFC win after three straight losses after signing with the promotion back in 2020.