MMA superstars Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas are set to collide once again in the Octagon. The two veteran UFC strawweights are expected to face off on December 14th at UFC Tampa, which will take place at the Amalie Arena in Tampa, Florida.
This matchup holds a special significance, as it marks a return to the same venue where Dern and Ribas first met in October 2019. On that occasion, Ribas outpointed Dern, handing the jiu-jitsu specialist her first professional MMA loss.
Dern, currently ranked as the No. 8 strawweight in the world by MMA Fighting, will be looking to avenge that defeat. The 29-year-old American has recently rebounded from a two-fight losing streak, securing a decision victory over Loopy Godinez at UFC Abu Dhabi in August.
Mackenzie just returned to competitive grappling in a mega event against Ffion Davies.
Ffion Davies claimed a dominant victory over UFC star Mackenzie Dern at the Craig Jones Invitational in Las Vegas, showcasing her superior grappling skills and underscoring the need for a dedicated women’s division in high-profile jiu-jitsu events. Davies controlled the match from the start, ultimately securing a submission win with an inverted triangle and armbar just 44 seconds into the second round. In her alley interview, Davies advocated for greater representation of women in competitive jiu-jitsu.
On the other hand, Ribas, ranked No. 9 in the strawweight division, is coming off a hard-fought decision loss to former two-time UFC champion Rose Namajunas in March at UFC Vegas 89, which also served as Ribas’ first UFC main event. In her most recent strawweight bout, the Brazilian fighter picked up a third-round knockout of Luana Pinheiro in November 2023.
The upcoming rematch between Dern and Ribas promises to be a thrilling affair.
