UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern is scheduled to return to the octagon at UFC Fight Night 249, Las Vegas, for a rematch against Amanda Ribas.
The two faced each other five years ago at UFC Tampa in a strawweight bout, and Ribas emerged victorious via unanimous decision. The fighter was coming off a hiatus from childbirth when she faced Ribas, but she believes she is better and more prepared now. Since her loss, Dern has had 11 more fights since her first career loss to Ribas.
“I feel like I was such a different person back then. I didn’t even feel like it was me,” Dern said at the UFC Fight Night 249 media day. “My overhand rights that I kind of threw out there I still have, the heart still there, but I feel like I’m a totally different person, and it was three rounds. I feel like we’re at totally different phases of our careers. I’ve evolved in striking, in wrestling, in takedowns, and just so much experience.
“Going back, I fought like Jessica (Andrade), Amanda Lemos, and all these girls that punch harder than Amanda (Ribas). Obviously, if any punch lands on the right spot, you can still knockout, but it’s a different type of confidence to me going into this fight now five years later than four months after my daughter was born and taking a little while off,” Dern added.
“A little bit, yeah,” Dern said at UFC Vegas 101 media day when asked if she regretted taking the first fight with Ribas, via MMAJunkie. “I still think I would have losses in my career, and I’m still happy with where I am today. It’s made me who I am today, so I can’t totally regret, but I think if I could go back. I’d wait a little bit longer.”
Dern thinks she’s a much different and improved fighter this time around. With that, she has confidence she will be able to right the wrong and get a win over Ribas. Mackenzie Dern is 14-5 as a pro and is coming off a win over Loopy Godinez.
