Montana De La Rosa: The American Submission Specialist in the UFC Flyweight Division
Montana De La Rosa, born February 14, 1995 in Helena, Montana, is an American mixed martial artist (MMA) who competes in the UFC flyweight division. She is known for her strong grappling skills and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, particularly her ability to finish fights via submission. A respected fighter within the UFC, De La Rosa has established herself as a dangerous challenger in the competitive women's flyweight division.
Early Life and Career
Montana De La Rosa began her martial arts career as a wrestler during her high school years in Texas. Her wrestling background gave her a solid foundation for her later MMA career. She quickly became interested in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and began to specialize in it as well, making her a strong and versatile ground fighter.
De La Rosa made her professional MMA debut in 2014 at just 19 years old, fighting in regional promotions such as Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) , where she quickly gained notice for her strong grappling and ability to control fights on the ground.
The Ultimate Fighter and UFC Career
Montana De La Rosa rose to international prominence when she competed on The Ultimate Fighter 26 , a UFC reality show that pitted her against the UFC for the first ever women's flyweight title. Although she did not win the competition, her strong performance on the show impressed the UFC and earned her a contract with the organization.
De La Rosa made her official UFC debut in December 2017 at The Ultimate Fighter 26 Finale , where she defeated Christina Marks via submission (armbar) in the first round. This cemented her reputation as a strong submission specialist and established her as a serious threat in the division.
UFC Career Highlights
Since her UFC debut, Montana De La Rosa has fought some of the best fighters in the flyweight division, notching impressive wins against fighters such as Rachael Ostovich, Nadia Kassem, and Ariane Lipski. In particular, her ability to effectively utilize her grappling against opponents inside the octagon has helped her maintain a solid spot in the division.
De La Rosa is constantly working on improving her striking to become a more complete fighter. Her dedication to training and development has allowed her to continue her career against increasingly tough opponents.
Style and Technique
Montana De La Rosa is a strong grappler known for her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling skills. Her specialty is finding opening submissions, being particularly adept at armbars and rear-naked chokes. Her wrestling background gives her an advantage in controlling her opponents on the ground and forcing her pace in fights.
While her striking is still developing, De La Rosa is working hard to improve her standup fighting game. She has shown that she is willing to continue to learn and grow as a fighter, allowing her to be better prepared in both standup and ground combat.
Future Ambitions
Montana De La Rosa remains focused on her goal of breaking through to the top of the UFC flyweight division. With her strong grappling and dedication to improving her skills, she is determined to make her way into the division’s elite and ultimately challenge for the UFC flyweight title.
Conclusion
Montana De La Rosa is a talented and dangerous fighter in the UFC flyweight division, known for her strong grappling and submission skills. While she continues to work on refining her overall fight game, De La Rosa remains a serious challenger to anyone in her weight class. Her determination and tenacity make her a name to watch in the future of the UFC flyweight division.