UFC 295 features an exciting matchup between two Brazilians in Mackenzie Dern and Jessica Andrade. The matchup is a contender bout with huge implications in the strawweight division.
Tonight’s card is headlined by Jiří Procházka and Alex Pereira in a fight for the vacant light heavyweight title. Champion Jamahal Hill vacated the title due to injury, and so the two are set to square off in a bout to determine the 205-pound champion.
Both Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern hail from Brazil, the same country as Alex Pereira. The countrywomen are meeting for the first time as both face a major crossroads in their professional lives.
Mackenzie Dern is coming off a win against Angela Hill, and is 3-2 in her last five bouts. Dern hopes to string together her first win streak since May of 2021, and a win over Andrade would put her right back in contention for a strawweight title shot.
Jessica Andrade Hands Mackenzie Dern First Stoppage Loss
In Andrade’s case, it is do-or-die for the former strawweight champion. She has lost three fights in a row to Erin Blanchfield, Yan Xionan, and Tatiana Suarez.
In the first round in tonight’s strawweight meeting, Dern tried to get the fight to her world, by attempting to take Andrade down, but the former champion’s resilience and strength was to much. Andrade targeted Derns legs throughout the first five minutes, and dropped her opponent at the end of the round, but the buzzer saved the BJJ specialist.
In the second, Andrade piled on the pressure and took advantage of the lack of striking ability from Dern. Both got into a fire fight, but Andrade provided to be to much for Dern, and got her out of there in the second.
Official result:
What did you make of Jessica Andrades win over Mackenzie Dern? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Image
