Main Card Results | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 – UFC
There was something in the air on Saturday night at the UFC APEX because after a strong start to the evening on the preliminary card, business picked up once the action shifted to the main card, turning the first card of 2025 into an absolute banger.Punahele Soriano opened the six-pack of fights with a 31-second knockout win before Christian Rodriguez once again handed an undefeated newcomer the first loss of their career. Finishes from Roman Kopylov and Cesar Almeida gave the middleweight division three stoppages in as many fights to begin the year, with Carlston Harris and Santiago Ponzinibbio following them into the Octagon and teaming up for a slugfest.In the main event, Mackenzie Dern flashed her dynamic ground game, submitting Amanda Ribas in the final seconds of the middle frame.It was an amazing start to the year at the UFC APEX, and we’ve got coverage of everything that transpired collected for you below.Prelim Results | Official Scorecards Punahele Soriano is looking dangerous at welterweight.The Hawaiian only needed one big shot to put Uros Medic on the canvas, eating a body shot before pressing forward with a left that missed and a right that found the mark, sending “The Doctor” crashing to the canvas in a heap. From there, Soriano quickly pounced, but the follow-up blows were unnecessary.Prelim Results | Official Scorecards That’s now consecutive victories since shifting down to the 170-pound weight class for the Xtreme Couture representative. He’s still a long way from the rankings at the moment, but Soriano is clearly someone to keep a close eye on right now in the welterweight division, as he’s back to being the finisher he was easy in his career.Christian Rodriguez handed another unbeaten prospect the first loss of their professional careers, out-working Austin Bashi in a competitive and entertaining clash on Saturday’s main card.Prelim Results | Official Scorecards Rodriguez landed the most meaningful offense throughout the contest, including a stepping knee and deep guillotine attempt in the first, while Bashi looked to grapple. Although the newcomer was able to get takedowns and climb on the back multiple times, he was unable to register any damage or seriously threaten from those spots, with Rodriguez continuing to score down the stretch to salt things away.This was the fourth time “CeeRod” has beaten an undefeated prospect, adding Bashi to his previous wins over Raul Rosas Jr., Cameron Saaiman, and Isaac Dulgarian. Still just 27 years old, the Roufusport product is now 5-2 inside the Octagon, and clearly settling into life in the 145-pound weight class.Roman Kopylov and Chris Curtis engaged in the first terrific fight of the year, trading blows over one second shy of full time before the bout was halted.Kopylov was slightly more effective in the first, throwing and landing in combination, getting just a little ahead. While Curtis started strong in the second, cutting his Russian foe, Kopylov rallied in the back half of the round, hurting the Xtreme Couture representative a couple times. They continued to bash one another in the pocket in the third, with Kopylov again teetering Curtis, only for “The Action Man” to press forward in search of clean shots of his own.In the final seconds of the fight, Kopylov landed a high kick that again wobbled Curtis, sending him to a knee. Referee Mark Smith watched Curtis’ movements and opted to stop the fight with one second remaining on the clock.This was a non-stop slugfest from the outset and a terrific battle between a pair of skilled middleweights looking to push into the Top 15. Despite the strange ending, this was an outstanding fight, and both men deserve a ton of respect for the effort they put forth.Standing on the firing line, Cesar Almeida fired back and put Abdul Razak Alhassan to sleep.Moments after getting stung with a thunderous right hand that put him on the canvas and with Alhassan chasing a finish along the fence, Almeida unleashed a left hand that found the mark and ended the fight with a thud. The replay showed Alhassan getting wide with his punches, and the Brazilian took full advantage, landing true and shutting off his lights.Prelim Results | Official Scorecards Just an absolutely blistering counter knockout from Almeida, who moved to 3-1 in the UFC with the first-round knockout win.Seasoned welterweights Santiago Ponzinibbio and Carlston Harris teamed up for an absolute slobberknocker in the co-main event of the evening on Saturday night, with “The Argentine Dagger” rallying to collect a third-round stoppage win.Prelim Results | Official Scorecards After feeling one another out in the early part of the opening frame, Harris hurt and dropped Ponzinibbio late in the round, then staggered him again in the second. But the former TUF: Brazil standout had success of his own during the first 10 minutes, and in the third, he continued to press forward and chase down Harris, hurting “Moçambique” and with power shots that let him staggering around the Octagon, prompting referee Kerry Hatley to step in and halt the action.This was an emotional victory for Ponzinibbio, who entered on a two-fight skid and having struggled to find consistent success over his previous seven outings. An outstanding fight between two gutsy, all-action veterans in the 170-pound weight class.Bravo, gents!Mackenzie Dern showcased her world-class jiu jitsu skills to draw level in her two-fight series with Amanda Ribas, submitting the Brazilian in the waning moments of the third round of Saturday’s main event.All three rounds were spent, for the most part, on the canvas, with Dern controlling from top position in the first and Ribas in the second, navigating an omoplata attempt from the multiple time BJJ world champion to draw level after two. In the third, Ribas again worked from top position, but this time, she was forced to defend a deep armbar, and after Dern eventually worked to mount, the attacked once more, falling back and securing the tap with seconds left in the round.This is a crucial win for Dern, who kicks off 2025 with her second straight victory and avenging her previous loss to Ribas. She’s a fixture in the Top 10 in the strawweight division and continues to show improvement each time out.Don’t miss a moment of UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2, live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 11, 2025. Prelims start at 4pm ET/1pm PT, while the main card kicks off live on ESPN+ at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
