American-Brazilian BJJ specialist Mackenzie Dern was back to her brilliant best this weekend as she put on a well-rounded clinic in the UFC Apex-based main event against the ever-game Angela Hill that earned the pairing fight of the night.
No doubt about it 🔥@MackenzieDern and @AngieOverkill earn your #UFCVegas73 Fight of the Night!
[ B2YB @ToyoTires ] pic.twitter.com/EbHFG8ErK1
— UFC (@ufc) May 21, 2023
From the very start of the main event, Dern displayed an incredible level of aggression, unleashing a relentless assault on Hill. She pulverized her opponent with a combination of striking and ground attacks, employing her hands and elbows to devastating effect. The judges’ scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the bout, with one judge scoring it 49-43, awarding Dern three 10-8 rounds, while the other two judges scored it 49-44 in her favor.
In the opening round, Dern showcased her aggressive approach by knocking Hill down with a powerful punch. She then transitioned to full mount, unleashing a barrage of ground and pound. Dern also exhibited a new dimension to her game, applying a threatening armbar that Hill skillfully defended against, ultimately making it to the end of the round.
Hill adjusted her strategy in the second round, adopting a more methodical approach to slow down Dern’s momentum. She landed some effective strikes on the feet, gradually chipping away at Dern’s lead. In the end, it was the dominance of Mackenzie Dern that proved to be the difference without any surprises.
After securing the victory, Dern was queried about her future plans. While expressing her willingness for a rematch with her recent adversary Yan Xiaonan, she shifted her focus to the former 115-pound champion, Rose Namajunas.
“I’m not sure what Rose is currently occupied with, but if she intends to keep competing, I want to face her,” Dern disclosed to Michael Bisping.
“I’ve never had the opportunity to fight a former champion before, and I believe this could be my chance,” she said.
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