Emma Navarro earned her UFC contract in emphatic fashion Tuesday night, submitting veteran Sarah Chen with a rear-naked choke at 3:47 of the second round on Dana White’s Contender Series 65 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
The 26-year-old flyweight prospect from Austin controlled the fight from the opening bell, landing 47 significant strikes to Chen’s 18 while showcasing the grappling skills that carried her to a 6-0 amateur record before turning professional two years ago.
It was the kind of methodical, patient performance that turns heads in the UFC front office.
Wrestling Pedigree Shows on the Big Stage
Navarro’s path to victory began midway through the first round when she secured a takedown against the cage. The former Division II wrestling standout at Texas A&M-Commerce methodically worked her way to Chen’s back, softening her up with short punches before locking in the fight-ending submission.
“I knew if I could get this fight to the ground, it was over,” she said during her post-fight interview with UFC President Dana White. “My wrestling coach always told me to trust my instincts, and when I felt that opening, I took it.”
Chen entered with an 8-4 professional record but looked outclassed from the start. The 31-year-old from Sacramento managed just two takedowns on eight attempts and was outstruck in both rounds before succumbing to the inevitable.
Perfect Record Fills Division Need
The win improved Navarro to 5-0 as a professional with her fourth finish in five fights. Her previous victories came via three submissions and one TKO — exactly the kind of finishing rate that gets White’s attention.
The signing addresses a glaring need for the UFC’s 125-pound women’s division. Several retirements over the past 18 months have left the weight class thin behind champion Alexa Grasso, who successfully defended against Valentina Shevchenko in their September rematch.
“Emma’s exactly what we’re looking for in this division,” White said after announcing her contract. “She’s young, she’s hungry, and she finishes fights. The flyweight division needed some fresh blood.”
Two-Year Sprint to the Big Show
Her journey to the UFC began just 24 months ago at Legacy Fighting Alliance 115 in Dallas, where she submitted her opponent with a triangle choke in the first round. The performance set the tone for what would become a meteoric rise through the regional circuit.
The breakthrough came in March when she outpointed former UFC veteran Monica Rodriguez via unanimous decision at Invicta FC 55. That victory put her on UFC matchmakers’ radar and earned the Contender Series call-up.
“I’ve been dreaming about this moment since I was eight years old watching UFC with my dad,” she said, voice cracking slightly. “To get the call-up and now have a contract — it feels surreal. But this is just the beginning.”
Austin Homecoming on the Horizon?
The UFC typically gives Contender Series winners 4-6 months before their promotional debut, placing her first official fight somewhere between March and May 2024. Sources suggest the promotion is eyeing a return to Austin in the spring — potentially setting up a storybook hometown debut for their newest signee.
At 5’7″, she possesses a significant reach advantage over most flyweights, and her wrestling background makes her a nightmare matchup for strikers in the division. The combination of size, skill, and finishing ability has veterans taking notice.
UFC matchmaker Sean Shelby confirmed Wednesday that discussions about her debut opponent are already underway, with an announcement expected within two weeks. For a fighter who was serving tables in Austin just three years ago, the rapid ascent feels almost impossible to believe.
