Mackenzie Dern subdues Amanda Ribas with armbar at UFC Vegas 101

Mackenzie Dern wins with a late armbar submission; Ponzinibbio bounces back for third-round TKO victory.

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UFC Vegas 101 delivered a thrilling start to the 2025 season, featuring exciting finishes and spectacular performances.

In the main event, Mackenzie Dern avenged her 2019 loss to Amanda Ribas with a third-round armbar submission, showcasing her grappling skills.

 

 

 

 

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The No. 6-ranked strawweight earned her second consecutive victory, earning a Performance of the Night bonus for her efforts.

Ribas, despite a strong second round, couldn’t withstand Dern's ground game, leaving her on a two-fight losing streak.

In the co-main event, Santiago Ponzinibbio overcame adversity, surviving knockdowns in the first and second rounds to score a dramatic third-round TKO victory over Carlston Harris, marking an essential win for the veteran fighter.

Cesar Almeida stunned fans with a first-round knockout over Abdul Razak Alhassan, earning another Performance of the Night bonus.

While Roman Kopylov triumphed over Chris Curtis in a thrilling battle, ending with controversy due to the referee’s stoppage in the final second, but securing both fighters a Fight of the Night bonus.

Other notable performances included Christian Rodriguez's unanimous decision win over Austin Bashi, Punahele Soriano's first-round TKO victory, and Thiago Moises’ decision win over Trey Ogden.

The event set the tone for an exciting year ahead in the UFC, with new faces and established stars making their mark.