Mackenzie Dern submits Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 101
Mackenzie Dern showcased her elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills to earn a dramatic third-round armbar victory over Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 101.
The highly anticipated rematch, held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, allowed Dern to avenge her 2019 loss to Ribas and extend her winning streak to two fights.
From the outset, Mackenzie Dern the $2.60 outsdier with the top UFC bookmakers, pushed the pace with sharp striking and relentless pressure.
She landed a series of kicks and combinations to keep Ribas off balance, while Ribas responded with a spinning back fist and high kicks that narrowly missed the mark.
Dern secured a takedown late in the first round, controlling the action with effective ground-and-pound, earning her the opening frame.
Ribas rebounded in the second round, flipping the script by gaining top control and landing strikes of her own.
Dern, from the bottom, delivered a slicing elbow that opened a cut on Ribas, drawing blood and shifting momentum.
Ribas defended an armbar attempt and finished the round strong, putting the bout on even footing heading into the final frame.
In the third, Dern wasted no time in taking the fight to the ground.
After Ribas successfully defended an initial armbar attempt, Dern adjusted her position and secured a deep armbar with just seconds left in the round.
Ribas had no choice but to tap at 4:56 of the third round, giving Dern a satisfying victory in their rivalry.
Post-fight, Dern shared her thoughts on the win and the importance of showcasing her grappling.
“Yeah, I’m happy. I’m wanting to get my submission record higher, but I’m trying to get better takedowns,” Dern said.
“She’s such a tough fighter. You know, her judo is good, so it’s not good to be on my back. Lots of stuff to get better at, but from five years ago to now, to get this win was heavy on me.”
She reflected on the final moments of the fight, emphasising the significance of representing her jiu-jitsu.
“It was, like, 20 seconds or 10 seconds left, you know, and it sucks when you’re so close to the time being over, then start back over,” Dern said.
“So, to be able to get the tap, I’m really happy.”
With the victory, Dern improved her record to 15-5 and solidified her place in the strawweight division’s top six.
When asked about her next steps, she replied, “I just wanna get another win in a row. I don’t know who that’ll be, but I hope it’s someone in front [of me in the rankings].”
The loss drops Ribas to 13-6, but her resilience and skill throughout the bout reaffirmed her status as a tough competitor.
Ribas will look to regroup and climb back into contention in her next outing.
The co-main event saw Santiago Ponzinibbio defeat Carlston Harris via third-round TKO, while César Almeida, Roman Kopylov, and Felipe Bunes also delivered standout performances on the undercard.
As UFC Vegas 101 concludes, Dern’s emphatic win not only evens her series with Ribas but also sets the stage for her to take on bigger challenges in the division.
She will now need to paitentily wait for the Women’s Straweight Bout between Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez to conclude in UFC 312 set for Australia, where Weili Zhang is currently a $1.57 shot with Marantelli Bet to defend her belt.
