Mackenzie Dern faces Amanda Ribas practically 2,000 days after the Brazilian handed her the primary lack of her MMA profession in Tampa, Fla., in a unanimous choice. They now rematch after competing the world over beneath the UFC banner, and Dern feels assured she’s a distinct girl this time round.
Dern entered the octagon to face Ribas for the primary time since giving delivery to her daughter Moa and now admits she wasn’t able to struggle.
“In my head, it seems like I wasn’t even there,” Dern instructed MMA Preventing. “It doesn’t even seem like it was me preventing there. The physique, each bodily and when it comes to hormones, when it comes to coaching and coaches and stuff like that. She was extra skilled and well-prepared than I used to be on the time. I even assume I fought effectively, given the circumstances.”
Dern mentioned she solely re-watched that strawweight bout a few instances up to now 5 years, admitting that “I form of wished to overlook that it occurred.” The jiu-jitsu ace was 7-0 within the sport on the time and 2-0 within the UFC and mentioned the one motive she fought was to get again in rhythm after “a protracted break” in being pregnant.
Ribas was additionally younger within the sport, 1-0 contained in the octagon and 7-1 total as an expert.
“Losses don’t imply that a lot in jiu-jitsu, you realize?” Dern mentioned. “You may have 10 losses and it doesn’t have an effect on your document. If in case you have 100 wins, you’re superb. You lose to a woman at this time and might struggle her once more subsequent week. I wished to struggle as shortly as attainable so I wouldn’t keep away for much longer. I knew that the chances of me shedding had been a bit increased, however I nonetheless believed I might win. I nonetheless assume I might have received regardless of my circumstances. It was my first loss, and now I perceive MMA. I perceive that information make a distinction, successful streaks. Being an undefeated athlete is intimidating, folks respect you extra.
“I feel [that loss] modified the course of my profession. Perhaps I might have waited a bit of longer, however I assumed I used to be superb. I ought to have waited. I feel I’d nonetheless have misplaced in my profession, it’s not like I’d have by no means misplaced. It’s just like the Amanda Lemos struggle in Anaheim [in February 2024]. Now, after I take a look at my document, I’m like, rattling, three of my final 5 fights are losses. Nevertheless it was form of on brief discover after Tatiana [Suarez] pulled out. The Amanda Lemos struggle, I feel that was value it. However the Amanda Ribas struggle, I feel I ought to have waited. Nevertheless it’s a part of our careers, it helps us develop. I’m extra calm and affected person now. I’m nonetheless engaged on that now that, and I’m 31 now.”
Dern received 4 in a row after that Ribas defeat in 2019, tapping out the likes of Nina Nunes, Randa Markos, and Hannah Cifers, plus a call over Virna Jandiroba. She likes the Ribas rematch as a solution to present her evolution over the previous few years.
“Individuals don’t see a lot totally different struggle after struggle, however a rematch after 5 years, folks will see how a lot I’ve advanced,” Dern mentioned. “The purpose is to win. I don’t have in my head that I wish to submit her, that I wish to knock her out, that I wish to win the Combat of the Night time bonus. I feel we’ve got what it takes to do all that, however the concept is to win. Being 5 rounds is nice. I’m extra calm now, I really feel I can strike now. I’m not a striker, however I get it now. As grapplers, we are inclined to rush for takedowns with zero distance. I do wish to take her down, that’s the purpose, however I really feel snug [on the feet] now. It’s not that rush to shoot like loopy and struggle with no approach if I get punched.
“I didn’t see, think about myself as a champion again then, and I see that potential now. I’m a very totally different individual, you realize? I feel Amanda continues to be the identical, actually. She’s gotten higher as an athlete, as a girl, has extra expertise, however I don’t see many variations in her sport. I feel I’ve modified quite a bit. Wins and losses would possibly nonetheless come, clearly, however I feel she’ll be extra shocked coping with me in these 5 rounds than I’ll be at her.”
