After a three-week intermission on the cusp of 2024 turning into 2025, the world’s leading MMA showcase, the UFC, is once again sprung into action. On Saturday, January 11, the stage is set at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, with the prelims kicking off at 4 p.m. ET leading up to the key card at 7 p.m.
The main spectacle of the night will see Mackenzie Dern, the No. 8 pick in the women’s strawweight division, aiming to level up her past record against Amanda Ribas, who stands just one position below her at No. 9. Their previous encounter in 2019 saw Ribas triumph with a unanimous decision, a memory Dern is undoubtedly keen to bury.
This rematch takes on enhanced significance, with both contenders eager to ascend the strawweight rankings. Moreover, the recent hiatus of UFC events has left fans and the MMA community hungry for new action, likely escalating the attention on this pivotal clash.
On the eve of UFC Vegas 101, the weigh-ins were conducted without any major hitches in the lineup. However, two combatants – Ihor Potieria and Jose Johnson, fell short in meeting their weight limits. As a result, their opponents stand to earn a portion of their purse. Nonetheless, the respective bouts will proceed as catchweight contests.
For those keen on the specifics of the night’s line-up, here’s how it shapes up post weigh-in: Mackenzie Dern (116) squares off against Amanda Ribas (116); Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) meets Carlston Harris (170); Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) is pitted against Cesar Almeida (185.5); Chris Curtis (185.5) will face Roman Kopylov (185.5); Christian Rodriguez (145) goes toe-to-toe with Austin Bashi (145.5); Uros Medic (171) is up against Punahele Soriano (171); Jose Johnson (128.5)* challenges Felipe Bunes (126); Marco Tulio (185.5) competes with Ihor Potieria (188)*; Thiago Moises (155.5) clashes with Trey Ogden (155.5); Preston Parsons (171) will lock horns with Jacobe Smith (170.5); Ernesta Kareckaite (126) opposes Nicolle Caliari (125.5); Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) squares against Bruno Lopes (205.5); Fatima Kline (116) takes on Viktoriia Dudakova (116); and the last battle will be between Nurullo Aliev (155.5) and Joe Solecki (155).
In addition to the headline bout, the event features two other duels guaranteed to invigorate MMA devotees. A notable point of interest is Jacobe Smith, a wrestling virtuoso who’s successfully transitioned into the MMA world. An impressive alumni from Dana White Contender Series Season 8, Smith is debuting on the main roster with the potential to create waves in the welterweight division in the coming years.
Smith’s unveiling on Saturday could serve as the foundational launchpad for a promising journey within the welterweight sphere. Similarly, the spotlight also casts its glow on Austin Bashi, another undefeated prodigy from the latest season of DWCS.
Just 23, Bashi is also marking his maiden voyage into the main roster, albeit occupying a more prominent slot in the initial card of 2025. He’s assigned a formidable opponent in Christian Rodriguez, which signals the high expectations UFC matchmakers have for the Michigan-born fighter.
Another riveting match on the agenda is the Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida skirmish. Fans could be in for a rollercoaster ride, as it holds the promise of an intense KO finish.
Alhassan, renowned for his knockout prowess, combines lethal power with explosive moves. His defensive lapses, however, could be his Achilles heel. On the other side, Almeida, despite his relatively green MMA career of only seven professional fights, boasts an impressive kickboxing resume, including a triumph over Alex Pereira.
Though the card may lack the glitz of major star power, it is not lacking in intriguing battles. It presents a variety of rising MMA talents ready to stake their claim in the world of combat sports.
The event brings with it not just the anticipation of each match, but the strategic moves, the athletic skill, and the raw will to win that each fighter brings to the Octagon. Each bout holds its own promise of suspense, of form tested against resolve, of seasoned techniques fighting against raw ambition.
In conclusion, this UFC event is expected to quench the thirst of the MMA community pining for fresh action. With a card lined with talented contenders, each willing to push their limits, it promises to deliver everything that fans have been missing in recent weeks.