Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Ribas 2, UFC Fitght Night - January 11, 2025

Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas 2. UFC Fight Night - January 11, 2025

The main event of the first UFC event of 2025 is a rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.

This fight features the two competitors facing each other once again after six years, following Amanda Ribas's victory by unanimous decision on October 12, 2019.

Mackenzie Dern is coming off a win against Godinez on August 3, 2024, by a unanimous decision.

Dern is a skilled grappler; she is tough and durable, exhibiting a never-quit attitude. Unfortunately, we haven't seen any progression in her striking or grappling skills lately in her fights, as she has only a 16% takedown accuracy.

Amanda Ribas is an exceptional fighter with strong grappling and striking skills, making her a formidable opponent both on the ground and on her feet.

Her strong defense and enduring cardio are the key components that enable her to gain an advantage in each round of her fights.

Unfortunately, she is coming off a loss against Rose on March 23, 2024, by unanimous decision.

If both of these fighters enter the ring with the same mentality and game plan, we will likely see a similar fight, even though their last encounter was six years ago.

I know Mackenzie is coming off a win, which can be exciting for her fans who believe she can win this rematch. However, I personally see it as a very difficult challenge. Dern has no defense at all; her hands drop in an attempt to slip a punch, which means she takes too much damage. If she employs the same strategy against Amanda Ribas, Amanda will likely capitalize on that weakness quite easily. For this reason, I predict Amanda Ribas will win this rematch by unanimous decision.