Highlights: Mackenzie Dern Wins Nailbiter In UFC Debut
Billed as the next Ronda Rousey in an almost unprecedented stream of comparison, Brazilian jiu-jitsu champ Mackenzie Dern made her anticipated UFC debut on the preliminary card of tonight’s (Sat., March 3, 2018) UFC 222 from the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When the dust settled on one of the most pivotal UFC debuts in some time, Dern had picked up a win.
But it wasn’t without a significant amount of adversity from the more experienced Yoder, who exhibited a ton of skill in a bloody, amazing fight.
Dern came out not afraid at all, swinging wildly and landing some power shots early:
Octagon jitters?!@MackenzieDern comes out swinging in round 1! #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/VgZZDNtSqn
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2018
But the veteran Yoder came back with some accurate shots of her own:
The left hand of @AshleyYoderMMA landing over and over! #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/GF8Sy05bkZ
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2018
That left was so effective that it dropped Dern in the second frame, turning the tide in Yoder’s favor and winning her a round:
BIG left by @AshleyYoderMMA drops Dern!#UFC222 pic.twitter.com/2VzvcD8hRr
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2018
Dern came back to get a pivotal takedown in the third round, however, almost scoring a rear-naked choke with her vaunted Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills to score a split decision victory in a successful, but educational, Octagon debut:
She gets it done in her Octagon debut! @MackenzieDern #UFC222 pic.twitter.com/keLcMlunhJ
— UFC (@ufc) March 4, 2018
