Mackenzie Dern gets revenge with nasty armbar submission against Amanda Ribas in UFC Vegas 101 main event

Mackenzie Dern waited over five years but finally got her revenge in a rematch with Amanda Ribas in the UFC Vegas 101 main event.

Unlike their first meeting where she just couldn’t score a takedown, and ultimately lost a decision, Dern spent almost the entire fight on the ground this time around as she constantly battled for positions with Ribas in several grappling exchanges. It wasn’t until Dern saw an opening for an armbar from the bottom that allowed her to score a reversal, which ended with her in the mount on top of Ribas.

With time ticking away, Dern decided to latch onto the armbar again but she was able to break Ribas’ grip to extend the submission, which earned the tap just a split second later with the fight coming to an end at 4:56 in the third round.

“I’m happy, I wanted to get my submission record higher,” Dern said about her latest victory. “We were able to get some takedowns. She’s such a tough fighter.

“From five years ago to get this win was heavy on me. I’m happy to get that [loss] off and to get two wins in a row.”

It was a constant battle of positions with Dern scoring an early takedown in the opening round and maintaining top position with Ribas mostly playing defense by tying her up from the bottom. While Dern was in control, she couldn’t really do much damage or look for submissions with Ribas largely nullifying her offense.

It was an impressive performance from Dern, who continues to show why her Brazilian jiu-jitsu is so lethal against anybody willing to go to the ground with her.

Dern now enjoys the spoils of a two-fight win streak as she looks to move forward in the strawweight division in 2025.

“I just want to get another win in a row,” Dern said about what she wants next. “I would hope someone in front [of me in the rankings] but we’ll see.”