Jeff Wagenheim2 minutes to read
Mackenzie Dern It did not add to its record number of requests, but it showed a different dimension of danger in dominating Angela Hill In the main event of UFC Fight Night on Saturday in Las Vegas.
Dern (13-3), a two-time jiu-jitsu world champion who has won four times inside the octagon the most in UFC strawweight history, spent most of his 25 fight minutes in wins or dominating the canvas, and key positions to set up the tap. But Hill (15-13) defended gamely, blocking several attempts with the arm gun. Along the way, Hale absorbed much punishment, which showed on her swollen face and nearly shut her left eye, but she survived until the last century of a lopsided battle.
Two of the judges scored it 49-44 for Dern, and the third 49-43.
“I tried to get the submission. I’m trying to catch Charles ‘Do Bronx’ [Oliveira] Dern said, referring to the former men’s lightweight champion, who has a record 16 appearances in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Gillian Robertsonwho competed at both flyweight and strawweight, has the most divers among women with seven.
Dern is seen as a grappling specialist, but it was her stand-up game that put her in a position to succeed. Her early takedown attempts failed, but she made it to the canvas in the first round with a right hand that floored Hill. In the third, Dern wobbled her opponent with a master knee to the chin.
Dern, who came after losing two of her past three fights, let her hands run wild, striking out a significant 126 strokes. Sixty-one of those came while dominating the plate, where she spent nearly half the fight.
Hill landed a whopping 66 strikes, which enabled her to overtake Frankie Edgar for second most in UFC history. She has 1,820 career touchdowns in the octagon, which places her behind only Max Holloway (3,122).
“I felt good,” said Dern, 30, who fights outside Huntington Beach, California. “I landed a lot from my injury.” Hill, 38 and from San Diego, saw the end of a winning streak. Her last 10 fights have taken the decision, and she’s been 4-6 in those bouts.
Dern, who is ranked eighth in the ESPN strawweight rankings, then called out the former champion Rose Namajunas. “I never fought an ex-champion,” she said. “I feel like I can get that chance now.”