Tag: Mackenzie Dern

Report: Mackenzie Dern To Headline First UFC Event Of 2025

UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern’s next fight will no longer be a year-ending clash in Tampa — it’ll be a year-opening assignment in Las Vegas. Dern (14-5) has had an inconsistent run in recent years and entered her most recent outing in Abu Dhabi this past August off the back of consecutive losses at the […]

UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern’s next fight will no longer be a year-ending clash in Tampa — it’ll be a year-opening assignment in Las Vegas.

Dern (14-5) has had an inconsistent run in recent years and entered her most recent outing in Abu Dhabi this past August off the back of consecutive losses at the hands of Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

But the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist successfully avoided the first three-fight losing skid of her career, outpointing Loopy Godinez to return to winning ways. And Dern initially looked set for the chance to end the year on a streak.

She was booked for the opportunity to avenge her first professional defeat in a rematch with Amanda Ribas (13-5) at the UFC Fight Night in Tampa next weekend. The Brazilian is currently ranked two places below Dern at #8.

Per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, however, that second dance has been pushed back and will instead now top the lineup for UFC Vegas 101 at the Apex on Jan. 11.

For Ribas, the rematch will mark her return to 115 pounds after suffering defeat to Rose Namajunas last time out at flyweight, another division in which she occupies a spot inside the top 10.

In her last appearance as a strawweight, the 31-year-old stopped Luana Pinheiro in highlight reel fashion with a late spinning wheel kick. She’s riding back-to-back wins in the weight class, having previously got the better of a top-five contender in Virna Jandiroba.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Vegas 101 on Jan. 11 are as follows:

  • Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas (women’s strawweight main event)
  • Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov (middleweight)
  • Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris (welterweight)
  • Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden (lightweight)
  • Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. César Almeida (middleweight)
  • Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez (featherweight)
  • Nurullo Aliev vs. Yanal Ashmouz (lightweight)
  • Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari (women’s flyweight)
  • Punahele Soriano vs. Uroš Medi? (welterweight)
  • Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes (flyweight)
  • Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes (light heavyweight)
  • Andreas Gustafsson vs. Preston Parsons (welterweight)
  • Victoria Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline (women’s strawweight)

UFC Fans Thirst for Mackenzie Dern vs. Tabatha Ricci

Mackenzie Dern vs tabatha ricciMackenzie Dern vs. Tabatha Ricci is a potential matchup that has many UFC fans salivating at the possibility. Both…

Mackenzie Dern vs tabatha ricci

Mackenzie Dern vs. Tabatha Ricci is a potential matchup that has many UFC fans salivating at the possibility. Both are top-ranked in the same division, there’s just one little issue.

Mackenzie Dern vs. Tabatha Ricci

The American-Brazilian Mackenzie Dern is just coming off an impressive win against Lupita Godinez in the strawweight division. The submission specialist is next booked to face Brazil’s Amanda Ribas in December. The 31-year-old Dern is currently ranked 8th in the UFC’s strawweight division and is looking to climb higher.

PRE Mackenzie Dern

In Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Mackenzie Dern had a highly impressive background before transitioning to professional MMA. She had won ADCC for her weight division and captured three world titles in IBJJF.

Baby Shark’ Tabatha Ricci, of Brazil, began her combat sports career in Muay Thai and would later add Jiu-Jitsu and Judo to her arsenal. She is a highly well-rounded fighter with a striking background but black belts in Judo and Jiu Jitsu. Currently, in the UFC’s strawweight division, she is ranked in the top ten after impressive wins against Tecia Pennington and Angela Hill.

Tabath r weigh in

Both Dern and Ricci have had wins in the past few weeks and in the same weight division, so it has many fans saying that they should faceoff. But there’s an issue.

Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci Are Teammates

Mackenzie Dern and Tabatha Ricci are unlikely to meet in the cage as they have trained alongside one another for years. The two worked together going as far back as when they both competed in LFA.

In an exclusive interview with Mackenzie Dern discussed training with Tabatha Ricci, she told LowKickMMA:

“It’s definitely good when you have a sparring partner kinda going through the camp at the same time because you guys both train hard. Of course, sometimes you have a good day or sometimes a bad day. But it’s different when you have a sparring partner that doesn’t have a fight or anything like that, so they’re just fresh. It’s definitely good when you have a sparring partner that’s on the same routine as you, so I’m definitely happy for that. It’ll be good.”

Mackenzie Dern vs. Tabatha Ricci is not likely to go down, so UFC fans will have to find another avenue for them to quench their thirst.

Mackenzie Dern
Tabatha Ricci

Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14

UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will seemingly have the chance to end her 2024 on a win streak in “The Sunshine State.” Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion recently confirmed its schedule for the remainder of 2024, with 15 events set across nine different cities. Tasked with closing out the year is Tampa, Florida, where a […]

Continue Reading Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14 at MMA News.

UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will seemingly have the chance to end her 2024 on a win streak in “The Sunshine State.”

Mixed martial arts’ leading promotion recently confirmed its schedule for the remainder of 2024, with 15 events set across nine different cities. Tasked with closing out the year is Tampa, Florida, where a UFC Fight Night will take place on December 14.

While the card remains without a main event as it stands, one notable matchup has been reported. According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, the #8-ranked Dern (14-5) is set to run it back with Amanda Ribas over five years on from their first meeting.

Dern Set For Chance To Avenge First MMA Loss At UFC Fight Night Tampa

When they share the Octagon for a second time on Dec. 14, Dern will be looking to avenge her loss to Ribas and finish the year with consecutive triumphs.

Dern, an ADCC and no gi BJJ (black belt) world champion, enjoyed an unbeaten start to MMA life. But she had her record blemished following seven straight wins when she ran into Ribas in 2019, losing by way of unanimous decision.

While a four-fight win streak brought Dern back into contention, the grappling specialist has been inconsistent ever since and recently tasted her first losing skid after defeats to Jéssica Andrade and Amanda Lemos.

Having bounced back by outpointing Loopy Godinez in Abu Dhabi this month, Dern will look to enjoy a run of victories to reignite her title ambitions.

Mackenzie Dern
Image: @ufc/X

Lemos will hope to put a stop to those plans by repeating her feat from five years ago. The Brazilian currently finds herself ranked at both strawweight and flyweight, with her most recent outing coming in defeat opposite Rose Namajunas at 125 pounds.

She’ll now return to the weight at which she earned a bonus with a TKO of Luana Pinheiro last November, looking to defend her #5 spot against her fellow Countrywoman Dern.

Continue Reading Report: Mackenzie Dern’s Return Targeted For UFC Fight Night Tampa On December 14 at MMA News.

Video: Mackenzie Dern is Submitted by Ffion Davies with an Armbar

Ffion Davies Submits Mackenzie Dern CJI ArmbarUFC athlete Mackenzie Dern was taken down and submitted by Ffion Davies during their match at the Craig Jones…

Ffion Davies Submits Mackenzie Dern CJI Armbar

UFC athlete Mackenzie Dern was taken down and submitted by Ffion Davies during their match at the Craig Jones Invitational hosted in Las Vegas this past weekend. Millions of dollars were awarded to the winners of the event, but Wales’ Ffion Davies took the headlines with her impressive throw and grappling work.

Ffion Davies

The Welsh-born Ffion Davies is carving a name for herself as being one of the all-time greats in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Ffion Davies has achieved remarkable success in grappling competitions. She won first place at the ADCC in 2022 and secured the top spot at the IBJJF World Championship in both 2022 and 2023. In the NOGI category, she claimed first place at the IBJJF World Championship in 2018, 2021, and 2023. Additionally, she succeeded at the IBJJF European Open in 2019 and 2020, as well as at the CBJJ Brazilian Nationals in 2019. Davies also took first place in the UAEJJF Grand Slam in London in both 2019 and 2020.

Ffion Davies

Mackenzie Dern

The American-Brazilian Mackenzie Dern is a UFC fighter but comes from an incredibly decorated background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Mackenzie Dern has an impressive list of achievements in the world of grappling. She secured first place at the ADCC Championship in 2015 and also won the IBJJF World Championships that same year. In the NOGI category, she took first place at the IBJJF World Championships in 2015. Dern continued her winning streak by claiming first place at the IBJJF Pan American Championships in both 2015 and 2016.

Mackenzie Dern

Ffion Davies vs. Mackenzie Dern

Despite her background in grappling, the UFC’s Mackenzie Dern was out of her element when it came to rolling against Ffion Davies at the CJI. In the second of their meeting, Davies tosses Dern with a very impressive head and arm throw, then angles to achieve a perfect inverted armbar forcing the tap.

See the highlights below:

Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern 2 booked for December Showdown at UFC Fight Night Tampa

Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern 2A rematch five years in the making, Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern 2 has been booked for December 14…

Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern 2

A rematch five years in the making, Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern 2 has been booked for December 14 live from Tampa, Florida, part of UFC Fight Night 249.

Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern

In 2019, Brazil’s Amanda Ribas was able to earn a lopsided unanimous decision victory against Jiu-Jitsu standout Mackenzie Dern. Since then, both fighters have earned a solid spot ranked in the top ten and will be looking to potentially break into the top five with a victory.

Mackenzie Dern
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – NOVEMBER 10: Mackenzie Dern poses on the scale during the UFC 295 ceremonial weigh-in at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on November 10, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

The 30-year-old Ribas has been training out of the American Top Team to sharpen her already top-quality skills when it comes to Judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In her UFC run, she has been able to defeat notable opponents such as Mackenzie Dern, Paige VanZant, Virna Jandiroba, and Viviane Araújo, among others. Most recently, she is coming off of a loss to former champion Rose Namajunas.

Amanda Ribas

The fan-favorite Mackenzie Dern struggled in her early UFC career to keep her weight steady, but since then has been solid when it comes to the scales and cage work. With her background in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, she has been able to defeat Angela Hill, Tecia Torres, Nina Nunes, and more. In her most recent bout, she was able to defeat the highly respected grappler Loopy Godinez.

Both of these fighters have a Jiu-Jitsu base but have developed some impressive striking as well. Dern is recognized for her solid jab and the power in her overhand. Last year, Ribas was able to earn a TKO victory with a shocking spinning backkick against Luana Pinheiro.

The Brazilian-American Mackenzie Dern will be looking to avenge her prior loss to the highly skilled Amanda Ribas when they rematch on December 14 at a UFC Fight Night Event. No other bouts are currently booked for this event just yet.

Kade Ruotolo and Nicky Rod take home $1 million in CJI tournament finals – Craig Jones Invitational Highlights

Kade Ruotolo and Nicky Rod take home $1 million in CJI tournament finals - Craig Jones Invitational HighlightsThe first-ever Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) returned to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night…

Kade Ruotolo and Nicky Rod take home $1 million in CJI tournament finals - Craig Jones Invitational Highlights

The first-ever Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) returned to the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas on Saturday night with eight grapplers vying for two million-dollar prizes and a pair of intriguing superfights.

CJI

Kicking off Day 2 was the Over 80kg semifinal match between Nicky Rod and Adam Bradley. While the pace was slow, it was clear from the get-go that Rod was in complete control, handily taking the first two rounds via the disclosed scorecards. With roughly three minutes left in the third, Rod climbed into mount. Bradley eventually gave up his back allowing Rod to slap on a body triangle and cinch his arm under the chin, securing his third-straight RNC submission of the tournament.

Joining Rod in the tournament final was Fellipe Andrew who scored a heel hook submission against Inacio Santos in the second round of their entertaining clash.

With the Over 80kg tournament final set, attention turned to the Under 80kg semifinals. First up was Levi Jones-Leary who scored a stunning upset against reigning ONE welterweight submission grappling world champion Tye Ruotolo in the quarterfinal round on Friday.

Jones-Leary landed his third win of the tourney, besting Lucas Barbosa via unanimous decision, putting him one win away from being a millionaire.

But if Jones-Leary hoped to take home the seven-figure prize, he’d have to go through yet another Ruotolo brother.

ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo delivered a solid showing in his exciting back-and-forth scrap with Andrew Tackett, walking away with a decision victory and a ticket to the Under 80kg final.

Ffion Davies and Craig Jones score submission victories in their CJI super fights

Before getting to the tournament finales, the Craig Jones Invitational had not one but two epic superfights pitting some of the best grapplers in the world against one another. First up was two-time IBJJF and 2022 ADCC world champion Ffiona Davies against UFC strawweight fan favorite Mackenzie Dern.

Their opening exchange saw Davies push Dern to the wall before dragging her down to the mat. Davies quickly transitioned to side control and attempted to mount, but ended up in Dern’s half-guard. Davies went back into full guard before once again passing to side control where she would remain for the remainder of the round.

Seconds into the second, Davies put Dern on the canvas with a head and arm throw. Dern did her best to scramble but ended up allowing Davies to slap on a reverse triangle and before long, forced the UFC star to tap out via armbar.

In the second superfight of the night, Craig Jones met nine-time BJJ world champion Gabi Garcia in an intergender submission grappling showdown.

Despite the size discrepancy, Jones was in control for the majority of the matchup and appeared to be playing with his food at times. After winning the opening round with 10-9 scores across the board. With two minutes to go in the second, Jones goes for a heel hook, but Garcia no-sells it works on an ankle lock. Unable to cinch in the maneuver, Jones was able to snatch a rear-naked choke that forced Garcia to tap out with less than 30 seconds to go in the round.

It was an unnecessary, but wholly entertaining matchup between the two BJJ stars.

Nicky Rod and Kade Ruotolo take home Million-dollar prize

In the Over 80kg tournament finale, Nicky Rod completed his perfect run at the inaugural CJI, earning a rear-naked choke submission just past the three-minute mark of the third round against Adam Bradley. It was Rod’s fourth-straight finish by way of RNC as he clean sweeps his way to a million-dollar paycheck.

In the Under 80kg tournament final, reigning ONE lightweight submission grappling world champion Kade Ruotolo finished off his run with an entertaining back-and-forth scrap between the man who took out his brother in the quarterfinals.

Unfortunately, Levi Jones-Leary wasn’t able to complete the dream-like run, coming up short on all three scorecards.

Craig Jones Invitational Day 2 Quick Results:

Over 80kg Semifinals:
  • Nicky Rod def. Adam Bradley via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:12 of Round 3.
  • Fellipe Andrew def. Inacio Santos via submission (heel hook) at 4:39 of Round 2.
Under 80kg Semifinals:
  • Levi Jones-Leary def. Lucas Barbosa via unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 29-27)
  • Kade Ruotolo def. Andrew Tackett via decision (29-28, 29-27, 27-29)
Super Fights:
  • Ffion Davies def. Mackenzie Dern via submission (reverse triangle armbar) at 0:44 of Round 2.
  • Craig Jones def. Gabi Garcia via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:38 of Round 2.
CJI
Tournament Finals:
  • Nicky Rod def. Fellipe Andrew via submission (rear-naked choke) at 3:28 of Round 1 to win the Over 80kg tournament.
  • Kade Ruotolo def. Levi Jones-Leary vis unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) to win the Under 80kg tournament.
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