Mackenzie Dern is not motivated by vengeance but can avenge her first mixed martial arts loss on Saturday. Dern runs it back with Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night, five years after Ribas scrubbed the zero from Dern’s record.
Dern (14-5) is a curious case in MMA. The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu star’s evolution as a mixed martial artist has occurred completely in the public eye. A one-dimensional fighter when she debuted in 2016, Dern’s striking and offensive wrestling have improved admirably. However, her defensive striking has plagued her against fellow contenders like Amanda Lemos and Jessica Andrade. Staying composed under fire is hard to train, but she’s confident she can conquer it. A win over Ribas (No. 8) won’t do much for Dern (No. 6) in the UFC’s official women’s strawweight rankings, but winning consecutive fights for the first time in four years gives her the momentum to make another run at the top five.
“I’ve been working so hard on not turning my back, circling out and not lifting my chin,” Dern told CBS Sports. “Defending myself while I’m backing out. I’m trying to work that composure and I think I’m getting better, I really think it’s going to come out in this fight with Amanda. I don’t see her…
