Strawweight prospect Amanda Ribas made her first comments since a submission loss to Mackenzie Dern in the first UFC main event of 2025.
Amanda Ribas and Mackenzie Dern treated fight fans to a highly anticipated, entertaining main event to kick off the UFC's 2025 slate. It was a back-and-forth battle for as long as the fight lasted, with both strawweights involved in wild scrambling on the ground.
Ribas defeated Dern in their first match earlier in their career by unanimous decision. But this time, Dern got her revenge when she submitted Ribas with an armbar in the closing seconds of Round 3.
After a disappointing loss at UFC Vegas 101, it didn't take long for Ribas to address her followers on her social media platforms.
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Amanda Ribas talks about losing the UFC Vegas 101 rematch to Mackenzie Dern
In a recent Instagram post, Ribas responded to her disappointing performance at UFC Vegas 101.
“On to the next one!” Ribas said. “Thanks to all the support, messages and barbecues you've done.”
Ribas' setback at UFC Vegas 101 was her third loss in her last four fights. Following a spinning wheel knockout against Luana Pinheiro in November 2023, Ribas fell by unanimous decision to Rose Namajunas in her return to flyweight last March.
Ribas has switched between strawweight and flyweight during her UFC stint, dropping down to 115 pounds after the loss to Namajunas. She has defeated Virna Jandiroba, Paige VanZant and Viviane Araujo during her promotional stint.
Mackenzie Dern makes a strong case for a title shot at UFC Vegas 101
Meanwhile, Dern moved one step closer to a strawweight title with the win over Ribas. The 31-year-old has won three of her last five fights, entering UFC Vegas 101 after a lopsided victory over Loopy Godinez in August.
Dern and Ribas could potentially clash for a future trilogy fight depending on their impending trajectories. UFC superstar Conor McGregor made a strong case for the trilogy fight after UFC Vegas 101.
UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili returns next month at UFC 312 against undefeated contender Tatiana Suarez. The winner of Weili vs. Suarez could potentially face Dern for the next strawweight title fight.
Despite the setback at the start of 2025, Ribas remains an intriguing part of the strawweight title picture. Her versatility makes her a contender to watch as she looks to bounce back from the Dern loss.
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