Returning to the Octagon just four months after giving birth, Mackenzie Dern went the full three rounds with Amanda Ribas. But in the end, she suffered the first loss of her career.
Facing her biggest opponent yet, Ribas rose to the occasion and put on a marvelous showing at UFC Tampa on Saturday night. Several hard right hand counters and a beautiful judo throw late sealed the first round for Ribas. And she stayed in control for the remainder of the fight.
On multiple occasions Dern attempted to bring the fight to the canvas, but Ribas countered wonderfully with a strong defense and sharp strikes. All three judges scored the fight 30-27 for Ribas.
It was Mackenzie Dern's first professional loss as she falls to 7-1. The up-and-coming Amanda Ribas is now 8-1 and seeks a top 10 opponent for her next match.
"Mackenzie [Dern] has a big name so for me, this means I have a big name now!" Ribas celebrated after the win. Check out her full backstage interview below.