Jessica Andrade finishes Amanda Lemos with rare standing arm-triangle choke in UFC Vegas 52 main event

Jessica Andrade definitely knew how to make a great impression in her return to the strawweight division in the UFC Vegas 52 main event.

The one-time 115-pound champion pulled off the first ever standing arm-triangle choke in UFC history as she tapped out Amanda Lemos at just 3:13 in the first round to cap off the card from Las Vegas. It was a jaw dropping performance from Andrade as she latched onto the submission and just kept locking it tighter and tighter until Lemos was forced to submit.

According to Andrade it was a move that she had identified earlier in the week with her coaches and which she executed in stunning fashion Saturday night.

“My coach figured out this was something that could work and we worked on it and we worked on it,” Andrade said afterwards. After I had locked myself in, I told my coach that I was going to continue working on it, and that I would catch it.

” I was shocked to hear her start gurgling. This is not for a takedown. It’s for submission .”

Prior to the finish, Lemos was making a strong showing for herself as she came out guns blazing with an aggressive game plan, which is typically reserved for Andrade whenever she competes. Lemos attacked Andrade with stiff leg kicks, which actually turned the Brazilian around while she tried to figure out her feet in striking exchanges.

Rather than stand on the outside against a taller fighter, Andrade eventually rushed forward to close the distance, which led to the opening where she grabbed onto the submission.

Once Andrade had the choke locked up, she just secured it even further with grabbing onto her own arm, which gave Lemos no room to escape. After one more attempt at breaking free, Lemos finally tap out, and hit the floor after Andrade gave up on her fight-ending submission.

Andrade has been a force of nature while competing across three different weight classes in the UFC, although she feels like strawweight is the best division for her.

Now that she’s back at 115 pounds, Andrade is determined to get back in the title hunt with hopes to become champion again one day in the near future.

“This division is mine,” Andrade stated. This is the place where I will perform at my best. I know that I’m ready to fight for the title again. You guys can give me a chance. I will be available.

“It was humbling to fight for the 10^th position in the ranking but if that’s what I have to do, if I have to climb back again, I’m going to do it.”