Mackenzie Dern did not add to her record number of submissions, but showed off a different dimension of dangerousness in dominating Angela Hill in the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Dern (13-3), a two-time jiu-jitsu world champion whose four submission wins inside the Octagon are the most in UFC strawweight history, spent much of the fight’s 25 minutes in clinches or in control on the canvas, prime positions to set up a tap out. But Hill (15-13) defended gallantly, fending off several armbar attempts. Along the way, Hill absorbed much punishment, which showed on her swollen face and nearly shut left eye, but she survived to the final horn of a lopsided fight.
Two judges scored it 49-44 for Dern, and the third scored it 49-43.
“I tried to get the submission. I’m trying to catch up to Charles ‘Do Bronx’ [Oliveira] with the most submissions,” Dern said, referring to the former men’s lightweight champion, who has a UFC record 16 submissions. Gillian Robertson, who has competed at both flyweight and strawweight, has the most subs among women with seven.
Dern has been viewed as a grappling specialist, but it was her standup game that put her in position to succeed. Her early takedown attempts failed, but she got the fight to the canvas…
