Mackenzie Dern’s late submission seals victory at UFC Vegas 101

Mackenzie Dern delivered a stunning third-round armbar submission victory against Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 101, held at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

The win allowed Dern to avenge her 2019 loss to Ribas and extend her winning streak to two fights.

In a high-stakes rematch, Dern, entering as the +160 underdog with the top online betting sites, showcased her striking improvements and elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

From the opening bell, she applied relentless pressure, landing a mix of kicks and combinations to keep Ribas on the defensive.

Ribas responded with spinning back fists and high kicks but narrowly missed her mark.

The first round concluded with Dern executing a late takedown, using effective ground-and-pound to secure the frame in her favour.

The second round saw Ribas regain momentum, flipping the script with top control and landing strikes of her own.

From the bottom, Dern sliced Ribas open with an elbow, shifting the bout’s intensity.

Despite an attempted armbar from Dern, Ribas defended effectively and finished the round on strong footing, setting up a decisive third frame.

In the final round, Dern wasted no time taking the fight back to the mat.

After an initial armbar attempt was defended by Ribas, Dern adjusted her position and locked in a deep armbar with just seconds remaining. Ribas tapped at 4:56 of the round, sealing an emphatic victory for Dern.

The win improves Dern’s record to 15-5 and solidifies her standing as a top-six contender in the strawweight division.

Reflecting on her performance, Dern emphasised her commitment to showcasing her grappling:
“I’m happy to get this win,” Dern shared post-fight.

“From five years ago to now, this fight meant a lot to me. To get the tap so close to the end of the fight feels great.”

The loss drops Ribas to 13-6, but her resilience and skill reaffirm her status as a formidable competitor in the division.

As the dust settles, Dern awaits the outcome of the Women’s Strawweight Championship bout between Zhang Weili and Tatiana Suarez at UFC 312 in Australia.

Weili, the reigning champion, is currently the favourite to defend her title, with the online casinons offering odds of -175.44.

With momentum on her side, Dern has positioned herself as a strong challenger in the strawweight division, setting the stage for even bigger fights ahead.

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