UFC Vegas 101: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2: Full video highlights

Mackenzie Dern kicked off 2025 spectacularly, defeating Amanda Ribas via a third-round armbar at UFC Vegas 101. The strawweight rematch served as the year’s opening main event, showcasing two top-tier athletes at the peak of their game.

Both fighters began aggressively. Dern landed heavy leg kicks early, while Ribas responded with combinations and a spinning back kick to the body. Midway through the first round, Dern secured a takedown, but Ribas effectively neutralized her offense, preventing significant damage.

In the second round, Ribas reversed an early takedown attempt by Dern, landing ground and pound strikes while defending against submission attempts. A sharp elbow from Dern opened a cut on Ribas during a scramble. Dern’s ability to sweep and threaten submissions kept Ribas cautious, as both fighters showcased their grappling expertise.

The decisive third round saw Ribas initially landing impactful strikes, including a head kick, before securing a trip takedown. Dern, however, demonstrated her world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills, setting up an armbar from the bottom. After a tense battle of positioning, Dern swept Ribas, took mount, and cranked the armbar to force a tap with just five seconds remaining.

With the victory, Dern improves her case as a title contender, proving she can overcome top-level opponents. Ribas, now 5-2 at strawweight, displayed resilience but ultimately fell short in the gripping rematch.

Check out some of the fight highlights below:

It was a fierce jiu-jitsu battle in the octagon! Dern created some space and grabbed Ribas’ leg. It looked like they were about to go into a Suluev stretch position. Ribas rolled back, and they ended up in an awkward pretzel-like position. They scrambled around, and Dern ended up on top, with Ribas’ guard closed.

Mackenzie Dern shared a heartwarming moment with her four-year-old daughter after the big win. The 31-year-old celebrated her victory with her little one inside the octagon: