Four Months After Giving Birth, Mackenzie Dern Suffers First Professional MMA Loss
Just four months after giving birth, Mackenzie Dern returned to MMA against a game Amanda Ribas and lost a unanimous decision.
Right out of the gate, Amanda Ribas looked to be faster and more technical on the feet. Dern attempted several single legs without success, and was actually hip tossed in two rounds by Ribas. Ribas played a conservative pressure game on the ground, staying clear of any distance that would allow Dern to work her stellar BJJ game.
Dern’s cardio was noticably better than her previous UFC outings, but without a path to the ground, Ribas slowly overtook her on the feet. By the close of the third round, Dern was clearly stuck, and the hits were piling up.
Dern, a decorated BJJ black belt, had a perfect 7-0 MMA record, but not without it’s struggles. She has missed weight in both her pre-UFC and UFC career, and many fans speculated that she may have similar struggles returning to competition so soon after giving birth.
However, Dern looked to be in great shape during the weigh-ins, perhaps better than ever. Amanda Ribas was simply the better fighter, and will certainly get a career boost from beating one of the most recognizable faces in the sport.
image source: Mackenzie Dern Instagram
