Eight-time BJJ world champion Michelle Nicolini may have been the shorter competitor, but she proved to be vastly superior to her opponent, Ukrainian sensation Iryna Kyselova, at ONE: VISIONS OF VICTORY.

On Friday, 9 March, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nicolini earned her third-consecutive promotional victory by submitting Kyselova in the first round of their catch weight bout, which was contested at 60kg.

Kyselova, who held a 16cm height advantage, was anxious to get into action. She immediately charged forward, and threw a right hook at Nicolini. That was all the opening the Brazilian needed. She changed levels, and immediately brought the Ukrainian to the canvas.

Nicolini was constantly one step ahead of Kyselova, eventually securing the knee on belly position, sliding into full mount, and then back mount. For a moment, it seemed as if the Brazilian would go for an armbar, but she changed her mind, and instead flattened out Kyselova.

Suddenly, the Ukrainian found her height to be a huge disadvantage, as she gave up her neck to the multi-time BJJ world champion. Nicolini cinched up the rear-naked choke, and though Kyselova tried to escape, she refused to tap. She wound up going to sleep, forcing referee Olivier Coste to halt the contest at 2:26 of round one.

The Brazilian inches her way closer to an opportunity at the ONE Women’s Strawweight World Championship. She improves her sensational record to 5-1, while Kyselova falls to 11-3.