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Ace grappler Mackenzie Dern improved her fledgling MMA career to 4-0 at LFA 24 tonight. This time, though, she showed off improved striking, dropping Mandy Polk with a combination of punches before jumping on Polk’s back and finishing her off with a succinct rear-naked choke.
The fight was contested at flyweight, with Dern having missed the strawweight limit in her last fight out. The inclusion of a new female flyweight division in the UFC has opened up possibilities for female fighters who were either too big or too small for 115 and 135, respectively. Within the UFC roster, that number includes such diverse talent as Paige VanZant, Jessica Eye, Valentina Shevchenko, and Joanne Calderwood. Dern isn’t at the UFC level just yet, but her submission skills make her a threat for any flyweight on the mat:
Mackenzie Dern vs Montana Stewart #Legacy61 @TheMMALAB @MackenzieDern OH MY GAWD! Omoplata RNC pic.twitter.com/gM31KLOsHc
— Zombie Prophet (@ZPGIFs) October 15, 2016
Mackenzie Dern is an exciting prospect for two reasons: her ability to twist people into pretzels, and her beauty. Like it or not, for female fighters, attractiveness remains an important piece in the puzzle that is stardom. Now, she has added raw striking power to that mix. While she is no Joanna Jedrzejczyk just yet, power is at a premium at women’s flyweight, and that could be a valuable weapon to have in the arsenal moving forward. It is also a huge improvement from her last bout.
Former UFC fighter and Houston photographer Mike “the Truth” Jackson interviewed Mackenzie Dern before the bout:
Insomnia
Don Frye shot his shot at Cat Zingano.
I come back from interviewing @MackenzieDern in the cage and find this from @DonFryeFighter at my spot ??? @LFAfighting @AXSTVFights pic.twitter.com/YiQ9ui0oNa
— Alpha Cat Zingano (@CatZingano) October 14, 2017
Holloway’s kid is adorable.
Me:Rush what’s your favorite number?
Rush:6
Me:What, Why?
Rush: Cause I turning 6 lol pic.twitter.com/3ga3OQSIKo— Max Holloway (@BlessedMMA) October 14, 2017
That’s an awesome fight. Jose Aldo vs. Ricardo Lamas is a gift to Jose Aldo, though. There are fighters out there for Aldo to fight that he hasn’t beaten handily already. Still, with Rafael Dos Anjos-Robbie Lawler headlining? That’s a superfight a couple years ago, and the winner is “guaranteed” a title shot. I look forward to December 16th.
Ponzinibbio x @PlatinumPerry
This is straight up pic.twitter.com/nAmS0RBUNP— Jim Edwards (@MMA_Jim) October 13, 2017
Conor McGregor taunting Tony Ferguson …
Tony pic.twitter.com/IhPaemJP30
— Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 13, 2017
Looks familiar:
And FYI pic.twitter.com/sZRyBUoGJI
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 13, 2017
I’m down with just using this art on the fight posters if it means we get Ferguson-McGregor next
#ufc @TonyFergusonXT vs @TheNotoriousMMA Going to be gangster as f— @danawhite pic.twitter.com/IkvVideeAZ
— Kamura (@KamuraShops) October 14, 2017
Woodley’s podcast with coach Din Thomas:
Check this podcast from last night. You don’t wanna miss it. @DinThomas and I putting all #Thirsty WWs on notice! https://t.co/Zy8nn73uhC
— Tyron T-Wood Woodley (@TWooodley) October 13, 2017
I know I was wondering:
.@KoreanSuperBoy7 is expected to return in early 2018. @KoreanZombieMMA is making great progress in his recovery. Hopes to be back in Spring https://t.co/V6cJf8UtUf
— Chris Taylor (@CTaylor_96) October 13, 2017
Please, let this fight not end in Bigfoot’s death or more irrevocable brain damage.
The main event is weighed-in! @RicoVerhoeven vs @BigfootSilva LIVE AND FREE tomorrow on #UFCFIGHTPASS! @GLORY_WS #GLORY46 pic.twitter.com/T8rEFCzoCW
— UFC Fight Pass (@UFCFightPass) October 13, 2017
Slips, Rips, and KO Clips
Highlight reel!
We will be watching this #LFA24 KO on repeat ALL weekend long! Don’t miss #LFA25 next Friday on @AXSTV! @LFAfighting @CurtiousCurtis pic.twitter.com/wjggOji3mK
— AXS TV Fights (@AXSTVFights) October 14, 2017
Not the only great head kick of the night either
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
Great KO
NINE SECOND KO. Glen Baker runs through Kevin Natividad at #LFA24. Could have probably been called at 6 sec. pic.twitter.com/gyb26ipwVx
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
Great TKO
Cory Sandhagen (now 6-1) makes quick work of Toninho Gavinho. Excellent body work and combinations. #LFA24 pic.twitter.com/wQXrwJQRJn
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
The “good one” smile
29-28 Vinicius Zani #LFA24 pic.twitter.com/2xTFIU1Bjp
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
Great submisison sequence here … took me a couple seconds to realize who was tapping who.
Keoni Diggs submits Nick Chasteen via kneebar in R3. Great sequence to end the fight. #LFA24 pic.twitter.com/9apCYvgG3o
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
Nikita Krylov ends former Bellator light heavyweight champion Emanuel Newton:
Nikita Krylov KOs Emanuel Newton cold in 42 seconds (FNG) pic.twitter.com/qgJbABkUbu
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) October 13, 2017
Another angle:
Al Capone was not playing games in this fight. #FNG77 pic.twitter.com/nsUoa9j575
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 13, 2017
Nikolai Danilov TKOs Rashid Sirazhudinov in 1R (FNG) pic.twitter.com/EC3WYRtCvD
— Jolassanda (@Jolassanda) October 13, 2017
When you can’t slam your way out:
Daniil Erlikh chokes out Alibek Khabibulaev at Fight Nights Global 77. Lucky he didn’t get Rampage/Arona’d. pic.twitter.com/AqKUfDKoeS
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 13, 2017
Liver shots are awful to take.
Ismael Barroso KO6 Fidel Maldonado. Liver shot. pic.twitter.com/1UuApqjVeh
— caposa (@Grabaka_Hitman) October 14, 2017
Quick Hits and Good Reads
- Just how much authority does UFC have to grant USADA exemptions? Iain Kidd explains.
- You know, if you have to get an MMA tattoo, this might be the best you can do. This is art.
- Demetrious Johnson, Jens Pulver and Angela Hill are competing in a $200,000 TwitchCon tournament as “All-Stars.”
Random Land
That’s how I would react too.
“You’re a spic!”
This how we dealing with racial slurs going forward.
“Twitter do ya thing” is cancelled.pic.twitter.com/d27VLnrUJX
— Dre God (@Y2Dre_) October 13, 2017
Check out this piece from MMA analyst and historian Dr. Patrick Wyman on the Knights Templar.
Stay woke, Maniacs! Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @Vorpality