Amanda ribas faces Mackenzie dern in rematch at UFC Vegas 101. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
At UFC Vegas 101, which takes place this Saturday (11) in the United States, Amanda ribas begins the first steps of its planned – and bold – journey of 2025. The revenge against the also Brazilian, but who was born in the United States, Mackenzie dern, is the first obstacle of a year that promises many emotions for the woman from Varginha, known as the 'Land of the ET'.
The first confrontation against Dern in the UFC took place in October 2019, the year Amanda joined the organization. The duel between the two took place on the main card of UFC Tampa. At the time, the fighter with North American roots arrived in Florida with an undefeated record of seven victories, while the Minas Gerais native had only three months in the new 'firm', after debuting with a victory against emily whitmire, winning in the second round by submission. More complete and with sharp Muay Thai, Amanda dominated the exchanges and overcame her compatriot's jiu-jitsu. At the end of the duel, the Minas Gerais native was declared the winner by unanimous decision of the judges.
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Five years later, the unmistakable laugh remains the trademark of Amanda ribas, but her mindset has changed a lot. Maturity has come both in her mind and in her heart. In combat sports since she was three years old, first in judo and then in jiu-jitsu, and encouraged by her father Marcelo Ribas, a former fighter and now a coach, she believes that sports change lives. Last year, Amanda opened an institute in Varginha that bears her name and helps children aged 4 to 12 who live in vulnerable situations. There, the little ones take judo, jiu-jitsu, muay-thai and capoeira classes. For her, it was an extra incentive to beat Mackenzie again and make her way to the strawweight belt (up to 52,1 kg).
“Today’s Amanda has even more heart and desire to win than the one she had in 2019. Last year I only fought once to rest a little and focus on my institute. I want to fight three times this year. I want to be a champion and leave a legacy so that many children can see that, with a smile on their face, doing the right thing and following the right path, they can conquer the world,” said Amanda.
But it wasn't just the Minas Gerais native who matured since the first confrontation. After losing her unbeaten record against Amanda, Mackenzie dern proved in the octagon who did not feel the first setback and went on to string together four consecutive victories in a row, three of which earned her the 'Performance of the Night' bonus. However, both Dern and Ribas have been experiencing a 'see-saw' effect, alternating triumphs and defeats. Which, for Amanda, who has even had contact with her opponent outside the octagon, is normal in combat sports.
“She [Mackenzie] is a good person. We’ve talked a few times, but we haven’t had much contact, since she was born in the US and I was born in Brazil [laughs]. I’ve always competed in jiu-jitsu and judo since I was three years old. Winning and losing is part of the sport. Normal, very normal. The ones who suffer are the fans [laughs],” he revealed.
In addition to being number eight in the strawweight rankings, Amanda is also tenth in the flyweight rankings (up to 56,7 kg). When asked if the idea in 2025 is to continue focusing on the up to 52,1 kg category or continue as a hybrid, she had no doubts in her answer.
“If a good fight comes up at 56,7kg, I will fight. But my focus is on 52,1kg, which is my category,” he concluded.
Amanda ribas maintains an institute in Varginha, MG, his hometown. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
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