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#4. Mackenzie Dern is back in the UFC strawweight title picture
Mackenzie Dern is back in the title picture in the strawweight division after UFC 273.
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She fought a tough and durable fighter in Tecia Torres, who had never been finished in the octagon.
In the leadup to the bout, Dern was committed to changing that and wanted to be the first to submit Torres.
She almost achieved that as she had applied numerous submissions throughout the fight. She had a kimura and then later a leg-lock, but to Torres’ credit, she didn’t submit.
‘The Tiny Tornado’s' resilience was a great test for Dern as she was forced to mix up her striking and grappling. It was an impressive performance by both women and made for an entertaining bout.
Dern was awarded the split-decision after the judges scored the bout 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29. She is back in the title picture and sets herself up for a bout with a top-5 opponent.
#3. UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling silences the doubters
After a neck injury kept him out of action for a year, UFC bantamweight champion Aljamain Sterling returned to the octagon.
He won the bantamweight championship in controversial fashion last year, when then champion Petr Yan was disqualified for an illegal knee. Despite being the new champion, many considered interim champion Yan the favorite heading into the rematch.
If ‘Funk Master’ didn’t have a chip on his shoulder already, he did after seeing the betting odds for the co-main event. It’s no secret that ‘No Mercy’s' path to victory was his striking, especially considering Sterling is referred to as “the human backpack” for his jiu-jitsu.
The champion put his grappling on full display in Florida He had Yan’s back and was in a favorable position on the ground. Even though he was unable to finish ‘No Mercy,’ he made it very difficult for him to fight back. It was a statement win for Sterling as he unified the bantamweight championships.
