UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 Recap

January 11, 2025—UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 went down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and let me tell you, it was the right card for UFC to kick off 2025. Fourteen fights, nine finishes, and enough adrenaline to keep fight fans buzzing well into 2025.

Main Event: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2

This was the fight everyone was hyped for. Mackenzie Dern showed up like she had a point to prove—and she proved it. With just seconds left in the third round, Dern locked in a vicious armbar, forcing Ribas to tap at 4:56. That’s how you settle a score. After losing to Ribas back in 2019, Dern didn’t just get her revenge—she reminded the division why her jiu-jitsu is next-level dangerous. Two wins in a row now, and she’s got her sights set on the top of the strawweight division. Watch out.

Co-Main Event: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris

Santiago Ponzinibbio might’ve had some rust to shake off, but by Round 3, he was all systems go. He put Carlston Harris away with a TKO at 3:13, proving that persistence pays off. Not his flashiest performance, but when you get the finish, who’s complaining?

Notable Performances

The night wasn’t short on jaw-dropping moments. Here’s who stood out:

• César Almeida: This dude came in ready. He put Abdul Razak Alhassan to sleep in Round 1 with a clean knockout at 4:16. The UFC took notice, and he snagged a Performance of the Night bonus for it. Deserved.

• Roman Kopylov: Talk about grit. Kopylov overcame a nasty cut above his eyebrow and still delivered a highlight-reel finish—a high kick TKO at 4:59 of Round 3 against Chris Curtis. Blood, sweat, and bonus money? That’s a good night.

• Punahele Soriano: Blink, and you’d have missed it. Soriano needed just 31 seconds to knock out Uroš Medić. Explosive doesn’t even begin to cover it.

Bonus Time

The UFC handed out $50K bonuses to the night’s top performers:

• Fight of the Night: Roman Kopylov vs. Chris Curtis

• Performance of the Night: Mackenzie Dern and César Almeida

Final Thoughts

If this card is a sign of what 2025 has in store for the UFC, we’re in for an insane year. Mackenzie Dern’s victory put her right back in the strawweight title conversation, while fighters like Almeida and Kopylov made their cases as names to watch. Bottom line? UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2 was a total vibe. Oss.

Source: UFC