Mackenzie Dern exacted revenge on Amanda Ribas on Saturday night, winning with an armbar submission in the closing seconds of the third round in the main event of UFC Fight Night 249 in Las Vegas — the organization’s first event of 2025.
The strawweight bout was staged primarily on the ground with takedowns from both, but no notable damage. Still, by the time the third round reached its conclusion, one incorrect transition from Ribas (12-6 MMA) was all Dern needed, as she tied for the second-most wins in division history with 10.
Dern (15-5) told Michael Bisping after the fight that she isn’t in a rush for a title fight, as the belt will be contested next month when Zhang Weili defends against Tatiana Suarez in the co-main event of UFC 312 on Feb. 8. It was the first time Ribas, who defeated Dern by decision in October 2019, had been submitted.
“I’m happy to get that (Ribas) win off my back and get two wins in a row,” Dern said.
Dern said she has no preference for whom she fights next but wants to remain active with another win to her credit.
The co-main event saw welterweight Santiago Ponzinibbio end a two-fight (and 25-month) losing skid with a third-round TKO of submission specialist Carlston Harris at 3:13. Ponzinibbio (31-8) used a flurry of punches to get the job done, while Harris (19-7) was unable to effectively defend himself. It was Harris’ second straight loss after beginning his UFC run 4-1.
Middleweight Cesar Almeida needed less than five minutes to earn a TKO against Abdul Razak Alhassan. Almeida (7-1) landed a left hand to put Alhassan (12-7) out cold at 4:16, extending his winning streak to two. Meanwhile, Alhassan has lost his last two outings, with his last win coming two years ago against Claudio Ribeiro.
Roman Kopylov and Chris Curtis traded blows for 14 of 15 minutes in their middleweight fight. Kopylov (14-3) caught Curtis (31-12) with a stunning head kick with a second left in the three-round fight, despite Curtis protesting the TKO stoppage. Kopylov has won six of his last seven UFC outings while Curtis is winless in two straight.
Featherweights Christian Rodriguez and Austin Bashi went the full distance, with Rodriguez (12-2) taking the judges’ scorecards — 29-28, 29-28, 29-28 — to hand Bashi (13-1) his first professional loss. Rodriguez, the main card’s biggest betting underdog (+205 at DraftKings), has won five of his last six fights.
Welterweight Punahele Soriano made quick work of Uros Medic with a 31-second TKO to open the main card. Soriano (11-4) has won two in a row, while Medic (10-3) has lost two out of his last three fights.
-Field Level Media
