Title: Breaking Down UFC Vegas 101: Dern vs. Ribas 2 - Predictions and Odds
Get ready for a thrilling night of MMA action as UFC Vegas 101 approaches! Taking place this Saturday, January 11, the event will go down at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The main event of the evening is a highly-anticipated rematch between top-10 ranked strawweights Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas.
Let's break down the betting odds, picks, and predictions for this exhilarating matchup.
UFC Vegas 101: Dern vs. Ribas 2
Mackenzie Dern, the No. 6 fighter in the official UFC strawweight rankings, has had an up-and-down run within the UFC since 2018. With multiple Brazilian jiu-jitsu world titles under her belt, Dern is an accomplished grappler. Following a hard-fought 2019 decision setback to Ribas, she's won four out of her last five bouts, including a recent decision victory over Loopy Godinez.
On the other side, Amanda Ribas is the No. 8 ranked strawweight fighter and is also ranked No. 10 at 125 pounds. She initially signed with the UFC in 2017 but her promotional debut was delayed due to a positive drug test. Ribas went 4-0 with the UFC between June 2019 and July 2020, before alternating between wins and losses with a 3-4 record in her last seven fights. Her most recent outing was a decision loss to Rose Namajunas at 125 pounds in March 2024.
UFC Vegas 101: Mackenzie Dern Vs. Amanda Ribas 2 Betting Odds
When the betting odds for this card first opened, Ribas was a -171 favorite over Dern. As of now, those odds have shifted to -189 in favor of Ribas, with Dern sitting at +164.
UFC Vegas 101: Mackenzie Dern Vs. Amanda Ribas 1 Stats
In their first fight, Dern landed a mere 13% of her significant strikes, while Ribas connected on 35%. Dern was unsuccessful in all six of her takedown attempts, while Ribas landed both of hers.
UFC Vegas 101: Mackenzie Dern Vs. Amanda Ribas 2 Picks and Predictions
Dern must get this fight to the mat, but her takedown skills have yet to develop during her time with the UFC. With her wrestling abilities lacking, it can be challenging for Dern to impose her Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills.
On the other hand, Ribas provides a high striking output and pressure, making it tough for Dern to maintain distance. If she can keep Dern on the backfoot while maintaining a strong striking pace, Ribas should emerge victorious.
Keep in mind that this is a five-round fight, which gives Dern multiple opportunities to take the fight to the ground.
Picks:
- Ribas to win via decision (-189)
- Consider Dern as an underdog play via submission (+400)
The main card for UFC Vegas 101 features the highly-anticipated rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas, as well as several intriguing bouts. Tune in to ESPN+ on January 11 for all the action, with prelims starting at 4:00 p.m. ET and the main card beginning at 7:00 p.m. ET.
In the main event of UFC Vegas 101, MMA fans can expect a thrilling rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas, two top-10 ranked strawweights in UFC. Originally, Ribas was favored with odds of -171, but as of now, the odds have shifted to -189 in her favor, with Dern at +164. UFC picks and predictions suggest that Ribas should win via decision, but Dern's Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills provide potential for an underdog play via submission at +400 odds. UFC fight night enthusiasts can watch the action live on ESPN+ on January 11. Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas have a history, with their first fight resulting in a decision win for Ribas, despite Dern's struggle to connect with significant strikes and fail to succeed in takedown attempts.
In a previous UFC Vegas event, Ribas faced Rose Namajunas in a decision loss at 125 pounds, while Dern continues her up-and-down run within UFC, having won four out of her last five bouts. These two accomplished fighters are set to face off again at UFC Vegas 101, and with odds stacked against her, Dern is poised to challenge Ribas' dominance in the octagon. While many are predicting Ribas as the clear favorite, the underdog play at +400 odds for a Dern submission victory could potentially pay off for those keen on betting on the sport's unpredictable nature. UFC Vegas 101, headlined by this highly-anticipated rematch, promises to entertain fans with not only a clash of dominating strikers but also a suspenseful night of MMA action.
