Title: UFC Vegas 101: Dern Dominates Ribas for Bonus-Winning Armbar Submission
Mackenzie Dern secured a much-needed triumph in her rematch against Amanda Ribas at UFC Vegas 101. With a third-round armbar submission, Dern snapped a nearly four-year winless streak in submission fights and asserted herself as a serious contender for the strawweight title.
UFC Vegas 101 marked the beginning of the 2025 UFC schedule, which took place on January 11th, at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streamed exclusively on ESPN+. The upcoming event on the UFC schedule is UFC 311, scheduled for January 18th, at the Intuit Dome in California.
From Underdog to Victory: Dern vs. Ribas 2 - Round 1
As the betting underdog entering the Octagon, Dern began the match looking to counter Ribas' striking attempts and gain position. Ground control became the focus midway through the round, with Dern securing a takedown and working from her opponent's guard.
Dern managed to land nearly half of her significant strikes and scored a takedown. Though Ribas remained active on the ground, Dern did not attempt a submission or sustain any strikes during the round. The judges' scorecards read 9-10, 10-9, 10-9 in favor of Dern.
Swinging the Tides: Dern vs. Ribas 2 - Round 2
The second round was defined by cautious striking and nearly entangled grappling exchanges between the competitors. Dern showcased her submission-threatening abilities and nearly secured a shoulder lock before battling back into top position.
Throughout the round, Ribas landed significantly fewer strikes than Dern. When it came to ground control, Ribas took the lead, keeping Derns striking attempts to a minimum. By the end of the second round, the judges' scores were once again 9-10, 10-9, 10-9 in favor of Dern.
The Finish: Dern vs. Ribas 2 - Round 3
The third round started with a barrage of kicking attempts from both competitors. However, a forward-pressure boxing style from Ribas allowed Dern to secure another takedown. Despite being on her back, Dern found an opportunity to pursue an armbar and eventually secured the submission with just a few ticks remaining on the clock.
Dern ended up with staggering numbers in the third round, landing 12 significant strikes while achieving 1:39 of control time with one failed takedown. The loss marked the first submission defeat of Ribas' career, while the victory for Dern was her first since forcing Nina Nunes to tap in April 2021.
The "Performance of the Night" bonus rewarded Dern for her impressive display, marking her first such honor since her win over Nunes.
Mackenzie Dern on Title Contention and Future Goals
Following her win, Dern spoke to the press, expressing her desire to be a dominant champion rather than rushing for the belt. Her ranking within the strawweight division is not explicitly stated, but Bleacher Report lists her as the No. 6 wrestler[5].
As Dern continues to capitalize on her victories, undoubtedly her rise through the standings will be a watchful topic for the strawweight division.
At UFC Vegas 101, Mackenzie Dern received the 'Performance of the Night' bonus for her armbar submission of Amanda Ribas in their rematch, marking her first win in submission fights since 2021. Dern's victory against Ribas at UFC Vegas 101 was the main event of the night. In their previous bout, Ribas was able to secure a win, but Dern sought revenge and proved her dominance in their rematch, Dern vs. Ribas 2. The upcoming UFC event, UFC 311, is scheduled for January 18th.
