LAS VEGAS – Mackenzie Dern is feeling good forward of her first profession rematch.
The grappling star turned UFC fighter takes on Amanda Ribas in a strawweight bout that’s set to headline Saturday’s UFC Combat Evening 249 on the UFC Apex. Dern (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) and Ribas (12-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) fought just a little over 5 years in the past at a UFC Combat Evening occasion in Tampa, Fla., in October 2019.
On the time, Dern was undefeated in her skilled MMA profession with a file of 7-0. Quick-forward to now, and Dern has 11 extra fights beneath her belt, combating towards the world’s finest in her division.
“I really feel like I used to be such a unique individual again then, I didn’t even really feel prefer it was me,” Dern stated on the UFC Combat Evening 249 media day. “My overhand rights that I form of threw on the market I nonetheless have, the center nonetheless there, however I really feel like I’m a very totally different individual, and it was three rounds. I really feel like we’re at completely totally different phases of our careers. I’ve advanced in hanging, in wrestling, in takedowns, and simply a lot expertise.
“Going again, I fought like Jessica (Andrade), Amanda Lemos, and all these ladies that punch more durable than Amanda (Ribas). Clearly, if any punch lands on the proper spot, you possibly can nonetheless knockout, but it surely’s a unique sort of confidence to me going into this struggle now 5 years later than 4 months after my daughter was born and taking a short time off.”
On prime of feeling like a unique fighter this time round, the circumstances are a lot totally different. Previous to the primary struggle, Dern was coming off an extended layoff as a result of delivery of her daughter. She clearly wasn’t combating whereas pregnant, and he or she returned to the struggle to struggle Ribas simply 4 months after giving delivery.
“A bit of bit, yeah,” Dern stated when requested if she regretted taking the primary struggle with Ribas. “I nonetheless assume I’d have losses in my profession, and I’m nonetheless proud of the place I’m in the present day. It’s made me who I’m in the present day, so I can’t completely remorse, however I feel if I may return, I’d wait just a little bit longer.”
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