Brazilian jiu-jitsu veteran Amanda Mazza sustained an arm harm whereas making an attempt to safe a rear naked choke in opposition to Emily Hansen at CFFC BJJ 15 on September 20, 2025, at Philadelphia’s historic 2300 Enviornment. The strawweight bout ended when Mazza’s arm broke in the course of the submission try, awarding Hansen victory by harm.
Amanda Mazza Breaks her Own Arm in Grappling Match against Emily Hansen
The incident occurred during what was a normal grappling exchange. Mazza, a seven-time CFFC BJJ competitor from Webb MMA, had secured back control and was working to finish the rear naked choke when the injury happened. Hansen, making her promotional debut from Checkmat Charlotte, was defending the submission when Mazza’s arm fractured.
While in a face crank position, she was pulling on her personal arm, and the forearm snapped. Each stopped grappling as they felt one thing had gone incorrect. Mazza thought she broke Hansen’s tooth or jaw, thus she launched. Nevertheless it was her personal arm that broke.
Mazza demonstrated exceptional composure following the harm. Video footage from the occasion exhibits her sitting calmly on the mat, talking with Hansen and the referee whereas awaiting medical consideration. Social media reactions praised her toughness, with followers describing her as “harder than a two-dollar steak” and noting how she “didn’t even understand what occurred” initially.
Unlike typical grappling injuries that result from defensive actions, Mazza’s arm broke whereas she was making use of the submission somewhat than defending in opposition to one. The rear bare choke targets the carotid triangle space of the neck, utilizing arm positioning to limit blood movement to the mind.
The 28-year-old Mazza has established herself as a revered competitor within the CFFC BJJ circuit. A purple belt below Jonathan Webb at Webb MMA in Washington Township, New Jersey, she has competed seven instances below the CFFC BJJ banner with three submission victories. Her background consists of notable appearances on the 2023 UFC Struggle Move Invitational, the place she competed in opposition to bigger opponents, demonstrating the grit that has outlined her profession.
Mazza’s journey into Brazilian jiu-jitsu started following a traumatic expertise at age 18, which motivated her to be taught self-defense. Standing simply 5 ft tall and weighing round 115 kilos, she has constructed a popularity for accepting challenges in opposition to any opponent no matter dimension disparity.
Hansen’s victory marked a successful CFFC debut for the Checkmat Charlotte representative. The injury finish represents an extremely rare occurrence in competitive grappling, where submission attempts typically result in either a tap out or escape rather than physical injury to the attacking competitor.
CFFC BJJ 15 featured a championship tripleheader headlined by UFC veteran Pat Sabatini defending his welterweight title against Richie Lewis. The event streamed live on UFC Fight Pass, giving the unusual injury finish significant exposure within the grappling community.
Recovery timelines for arm fractures in athletes typically range from several weeks to months depending on severity and location of the break. Mazza’s return to competition will depend on the specific nature of her injury and successful rehabilitation.
