Dione Barbosa Submits Diana Belbita in Dominant Display at UFC Apex
The UFC Apex was the stage for a compelling women’s flyweight showdown on Saturday night, as Brazil’s Dione “The Witch” Barbosa faced off against Romania’s Diana “The Warrior Princess” Belbita in the preliminary card of UFC Fight Night: Emmett vs. Murphy. In a bout that pitted Barbosa’s grappling mastery against Belbita’s striking tenacity, it was the Brazilian who emerged victorious, securing a first-round submission that underscored her growing presence in the 125-pound division.
Entering the octagon with a 1-1 UFC record, Barbosa (now 8-3) was looking to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Miranda Maverick in July 2024—a short-notice fight that tested her resilience. Across from her stood Belbita (15-10), a seasoned fighter with a 2-5 record in the UFC, riding a two-fight skid that included a submission loss to Molly McCann in February 2024. With both athletes eager to turn their fortunes around, the stage was set for a high-energy clash on this ESPN+-streamed event.
From the opening bell, Belbita came out swinging, leveraging her aggressive striking style to pepper Barbosa with a flurry of punches. The 28-year-old Romanian, known for her high output and forward pressure, landed crisp combinations—rarely throwing fewer than three strikes at a time—and mixed in kicks to keep Barbosa guessing. A blocked head kick and an overhand right from Belbita marked early successes, showcasing the striking improvements she’d honed during her 14-month layoff. However, her punches lacked the power to deter Barbosa, who absorbed the shots with a steely resolve.
Barbosa, a 32-year-old black belt in judo and jiu-jitsu, remained patient, biding her time as Belbita’s volume piled up. The Brazilian countered with heavier, more deliberate strikes, landing a few thudding blows that hinted at her physical edge. Just past the two-minute mark, Barbosa flipped the script. Backing Belbita against the fence, she executed a textbook takedown, planting “The Warrior Princess” on the mat—her preferred domain. The shift was swift and decisive; Barbosa advanced to full mount with ease, trapping Belbita’s arm and locking in an arm-triangle choke.
Belbita fought to escape, rolling in an attempt to create space, but Barbosa’s grip was unrelenting. At 4:13 of the first round, Belbita tapped out, handing Barbosa her second UFC win and snapping her own losing streak. The finish marked Barbosa’s sixth career submission victory, reinforcing her reputation as a ground-game specialist in a division often dominated by strikers.
“I like this matchup because she’s aggressive and a good striker,” Barbosa said in the lead-up to the fight. “I wanted to keep my distance, prove my striking is getting better, and capitalize with a big win.” While she showcased her evolving stand-up game early, it was her grappling that sealed the deal—a testament to the well-rounded skill set she’s been refining at the UFC Performance Institute in Las Vegas. Post-fight, Barbosa expressed confidence in her trajectory, stating, “I’m on the rise. This is just the beginning.”
For Belbita, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow. With a UFC record now standing at 2-6, the Romanian faces mounting pressure to turn things around. Despite her durability—she’s never been knocked out in her career—Belbita’s struggles against top-tier grapplers have been a recurring theme. Her five losses in seven UFC outings include defeats to the likes of McCann, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Liana Jojua, all of whom exploited her vulnerability on the mat. After the fight, Belbita remained defiant, promising fans, “I’ll keep working. This isn’t over for me.”
The stats told the tale of Barbosa’s dominance. While Belbita landed more strikes in the brief stand-up exchanges (29 of 77 total strikes in her last fight against McCann as a reference point), Barbosa’s efficiency on the ground was undeniable. Her ability to secure the takedown and finish with precision highlighted a clear disparity in grappling pedigree—Barbosa averages 2.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, compared to Belbita’s 0.6.
The victory was a much-needed boost for Barbosa, who’d faced adversity in her UFC tenure. After earning her contract via Dana White’s Contender Series with an armbar submission in 2023, she debuted with a decision win over Ernesta Kareckaite at UFC 301 in May 2024. The loss to Maverick had been a setback, but Saturday’s performance reaffirmed her potential. Training out of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and sharpening her skills at the PI, Barbosa credited her team for the turnaround. “The PI helped me recover and prepare,” she said. “I feel more comfortable in the octagon now.”
Belbita, meanwhile, returned after a lengthy hiatus following her submission loss to McCann. The Stoney Creek, Ontario-based fighter, a former world and European kempo champion, had hoped the time away would spark a resurgence. Her striking looked sharper, but Barbosa’s ground game proved too much to overcome. At 5’7” with a 68-inch reach, Belbita’s physical tools couldn’t compensate for the grappling gap against the 5’6” Barbosa, whose 66-inch reach belied her ability to close distance and dominate positionally.
The prelim bout closed out the early portion of UFC Vegas 105, setting the tone for a night headlined by Josh Emmett vs. Lerone Murphy. For Barbosa, the win opens doors to bigger opportunities in the flyweight division, with potential matchups against the likes of Casey O’Neill or Ivana Petrovic on her radar. For Belbita, it’s back to the drawing board as she seeks to rediscover the form that earned her UFC wins over Hannah Goldy and Maria Oliveira.
As the UFC rolls into its next events—UFC 314: Volkanovski vs. Lopes on April 12 and beyond—Barbosa’s stock is rising, while Belbita faces a critical juncture. In a division brimming with talent, Saturday’s result was a stark reminder: adaptability remains king in the octagon.
