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Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas faced each other in a women’s Strawweight clash tonight (Sat., Oct. 12, 2019) at UFC Fight Night 161, which took place inside Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida, streaming online via ESPN+. In a pretty decisive win, Ribas picked her foe apart.
The two flashed jabs early, and Dern was clearly looking to land a big right hand, but she ate the first cross of the night. Dern ate another counter right hand. One more. A low kick from Ribas briefly causes Dern to hit the mat. Dern had yet to hit anything but air halfway through the round, and her right hand is countered once again. Dern scored a single leg takedown but is unable to keep her foe down. Dern ate another right hand and was reversed to her back from the clinch. Dern immediately began attacking a triangle, but Ribas defended. Ribas controlled her foe until the end of the first.
Dern went for the early single leg to start the second, and it failed badly. Ribas landed a nice low kick-right hand combination. Dern finally landed her big overhand a couple minutes into the round, but Ribas absorbed it well. Another Dern takedown was stuffed. Spinning back kick landed partially for Ribas. Hard jab from Ribas. Ribas stung her foe with another counter right hand and jab. Dern initiated a third takedown attempt and nearly took the back, but Ribas spun into guard and then walked off. Ribas flurried in the final 10 seconds, missing a wheel kick but landing a heavy right hand.
Dern began the third aggressive but was knocked down by a low kick. Two left hands landed for Ribas. Dern landed a body kick but ate three counter punches. Then, Dern pulled guard briefly, and Ribas scored punches before disengaging. Body shot scored for Ribas. Stiff jab snapped Dern’s head back. Hard 1-2 from Ribas scored soon after. Ribas continued to jab and move, and Dern kept swinging wide. Fully confident in her takedown defense, Ribas went on the offensive in the final 20 seconds, really forcing the issue and putting an exclamation point on a clear victory.
Ribas executed a sprawl-and-brawl game plan perfectly, whereas Dern clearly has a lot of development left to become a complete MMA fighter.
Result: Amanda Ribas defeats Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
For complete UFC Fight Night 161: “Joanna vs. Waterson” results and play-by-play, click HERE!