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: