Meet Polyana Viana: the “Iron Lady” Who Turned a Would‑be Thief Into a Mug‑Charger
Picture this: it’s late on a Saturday in Rio de Janeiro. Polyana Viana, the UFC straw‑weight fighter better known as the “Iron Lady,” is waiting outside her apartment block for an Uber. Suddenly a man—thinking he’s got a gun—tries to swipe her phone.
The Unexpected Show‑down
Polyana didn’t stick around to get robbed. Instead, she hit the assailant in the face with quick, clean punches and a decisive kick. Within a flash, she had him locked tight in a rear‑naked choke—a classic MMA move that puts any foe on the ground.
“When he tried to pull the gun, I knew I entertained myself,” Polyana told MMA Junkie. “Finally, it turned out to be a cardboard mock‑gun.”
Riptide Style: Mugging Gone Wrong
- Victim: Polyana Viana, 27. UFC‑clever, street‑wise.
- Perpetrator: “Gun‑bearer” – reality check: a cardboard prop.
- Action: Two punches, a soccer‑style kick, and a rear‑naked choke.
- Result: The thief was bruised, bloody, and utterly “all‑but‑agreed.”
Police and the Post‑Mug Life
With the suspect bound and an unmistakable warning that “he won’t have time to draw it” had already been delivered, the police arrived shortly after. The man was processed, skinned a little in the process, and taken away.
Polyana, while looking after the thief, once again starred in her own real‑life fight scene—this time with a silver‑lamberted kimura‑style hold. “He was scared because the punches came fast,” she said.
Back to Normal After the Chaos
After swabbed out, the battered burglar was taken to the local police station for treatment. Polyana, meanwhile, returned home and had a somewhat “hands‑sprung” dinner. “Next day my wrists ached a bit, but I’m fine!” she reported. The Iron Lady kept her focus—abs, wins, and healthy hands.
Melting down a would‑be robbery into a self‑defense display, Polyana exemplified how the new president Jair Bolsonaro’s promises to cut crime in Brazil can be backed by the everyday bravery of athlete‑humans.
