The highly anticipated bout between Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill took center stage at UFC Vegas 73, after being rescheduled from the previous week’s UFC Charlotte card where Irene Aldana was moved to the UFC 289 main event.
This showdown transitioned from a standard three-round contest to five-rounds.
Right from the start, Dern came out swinging with great intensity, resulting in a clinch within the first 30 seconds. On paper, this seemed to favor Dern, but to everyone’s surprise, Hill managed to reverse the position and landed a nasty knee to Dern’s body.
After the break, a brief exchange at the center of the octagon led to a throw from Dern, but Hill quickly regained control.
Back on their feet, Dern unleashed a powerful punch that sent Hill to the ground, allowing Dern to swiftly take top position. Although Dern briefly secured the mount, Hill managed to escape by using the fence. However, she found herself with Dern on top of her.
Once again, Hill had to defend against Dern’s mount attempts, scrambling and throwing upkicks. Dern then shifted her focus to Hill’s leg and, after some time hunting for submissions, she transitioned into mount and delivered a massive elbow strike.
Seizing the opportunity, Dern locked in an arm-bar, positioning herself perfectly for victory. Nevertheless, Hill showed her resilience by clasping her hands together and surviving until the end of the round.
Dern continued to display her power, but this time she momentarily sacrificed her position. Hill took advantage of this and applied a body lock, although it was uncertain whether she wanted to engage in a ground battle with the dangerous Mackenzie Dern.
On the feet, Hill was outmatched in terms of power but showcased superior technical skills. As the round progressed, both exchanged heavy blows, turning the bout into an intense slugfest.
A combination from Hill caused Dern to slip to her back. Hill followed her down, only for Dern to aggressively pursue an arm-bar. Hill managed to escape and wisely returned to her feet.
However, a devastating knee from Dern rocked Hill, leading to Dern executing a throw. In the scramble that followed, it was Hill who ended up on top. After returning to their feet, Dern once again took the action to the ground, maintaining control and landing significant ground and pound strikes.
Dern dominated the rest of the round, transitioning between strikes and submission attempts, concluding with Hill trapped in an arm-bar. Angela Hill’s determination and resilience were the only things keeping her in.
The fourth round commenced with another onslaught from Dern. The two then engaged in a clinch and battled against the fence. Upon separation, Dern utilized her jab effectively and appeared to have the advantage in stand-up exchanges.
Dern disregarded Hill’s power, relentlessly pressing forward, punishing Hill, and seeking another takedown. Hill admirably defended against the takedown attempts, and in the final minute, they continued to trade blows.
The difference between Dern and Hill going into round five. Wow. pic.twitter.com/oVtgJKTsp8
— Vinny Talks' ERA (@vinnytalks_) May 21, 2023
Dern even attempted a spinning back fist, which left her in a compromised position and resulted in a takedown, with Dern now on top and Hill attempting a sub from the bottom.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcswiSnY5s8&pp=ygUObWFja2VuemllIGRlcm4%3D
Dern secured the mount in the final minute, delivering more devastating elbows and forcing the referee to closely monitor the situation. However, the round ended with the sound of the horn, leaving no doubt about the winner.
THE START TO THIS FIGHT FROM DERN AND HILL 😳 #UFCVegas73 pic.twitter.com/vcznl6nzd8
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) May 21, 2023
The official result was announced: Mackenzie Dern emerged victorious over Angela Hill by unanimous decision, with the judges scoring the bout 49-43, 49-44, and 49-44 in favor of Dern.
