Mackenzie Dern will reportedly rematch Amanda Ribas at UFC Tampa Bay this year.
The pair fought each other in 2019 at Tampa Bay. Ribas won the fight via a unanimous decision. The win ended Dern’s unbeaten record after she had won her first two fights in the UFC. However, their recent form has now built the narrative for a rematch.
Both have won two out of their last four fights. Ribas lost her last fight against Rose Namajunas. Meanwhile, Dern secured a win over Loopy Godinez in her previous fight, ending her two defeats in a row. Now, the pair expected to fight by the end of the year with a potential fight in December.
🚨 BREAKING! Amanda Ribas will take on Mackenzie Dern at #UFCTampa on December 14th!
(per. @AgFight) #UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/ryA2TVU6fI
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) August 19, 2024
Du Plessis Vs. Pereira
Meanwhile, Morne Visser, Dricus du Plessis’ coach, wants any Alex Pereira fight to happen near the end of the year. Pereira said he would come back down to middleweight after Du Plessis won a fourth-round submission against Israel Adesanya at UFC 305. It was the first successful defense of his UFC Middleweight Belt, which he won against Sean Strickland at UFC 297. Du Plessis wants the fight at light heavyweight. If it happens, Visser wants it this year.
“No, I won’t give him the joy to go down to 185 (pounds). We’ll just go up because we don’t want to beat him and he’ll say that ‘We had to go down’ and he was fatigued and whatever. So, no – we’ll go up. I’m sure that the UFC will be OK with that – going up, if that’s what he said. I know Dricus is game, so we’ll go up. I’m not going to wait for him to come down. He’s fighting in October, so I really hope the UFC gives us the blessing for this for December – as soon as that,” Visser said
Reaction
Excited for this! Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas at #UFCTampa on Dec 14th is a must-watch!
— Hamed Al Shamsi (@hamed_techAE) August 19, 2024
Mackenzie’s striking is so much better!
— Gio (@giocaballero120) August 19, 2024
Honestly think Dern can win this
— BarbaricMMA (@BarbaricMMA02) August 19, 2024