Swedish MMA pioneer Lina Länsberg retires: ”Hell of a ride”

Lina Länsberg. Photo via Instagram (@linalansberg)

Swedish MMA pioneer Lina ”Elbow Queen” Länsberg has decided to hang up her gloves for good.

The retirement was announced on social media, shortly after last night’s submission loss to Mayra Bueno Silva.

”Thank you so much for all the love and support. This has been a hell of a ride and to start fighting is the best thing I’ve ever done. It has given me so so much. But now it’s time to move on. I’m done,” Länsberg wrote on Instagram.

Read more: Lina Länsberg loses gruelling fight at UFC Vegas 69

Lina Länsberg was the first Swedish woman in UFC

After a successful Muay Thai career, that included gold in 2008 IFMA World Championship, the tough Swede entered professional MMA in 2012, as she faced fellow Pannie Kianzad in a exciting Swedish derby.

”Elbow Queen” then pulled together six straight wins, which eventually took her to the biggest MMA stage in the world.

Breaking ground as the first Swedish woman in the UFC, she faced the absolute toughest opponent possible in MMA legend Cris Cyborg. The two clashed on the latters hometurf in Brazil on September 24, 2016, and even though Länsberg put on a fight, Cyborg won the bout in the second round.

Photo via Instagram (@linalansberg)

Defeated MMA legend Tonya Evinger in Denmark

Lina Länsberg then continued her UFC career with fights against top opponents like Aspen Ladd, Yana Kunitskaya, Macy Chiasson and Pannie Kianzad.

Her biggest promotional win came against former long-time Invicta FC bantamweight champion Tonya Evinger in 2019. Länsberg entered the octagon in Copenhagen as a big underdog, but put on a massive performance which led to a unanimous decision win against the former champ.

The 40-year-old Swede ended her UFC career with a string of tough losses, including a bloody and thrilling rematch against Kianzad in the summer of 2021.

Frontkick wishes ”Elbow Queen” the best of luck in the future. Thank you for all the exciting fights!

Read more: UFC Vegas 69 results: Blanchfield submits former champion in the second round

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