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Nina Nunes versus Mackenzie Dern offered a match-up not only between two elite mixed martial arts moms but a top-15 strawweight fight with notable implications in the division. In the end, it became a showcase for the surging Brazilian.
Dern came out aggressive, and a bit wild at times, to grab hold of Nunes and take things to the mat. The fifth-ranked fighter was able to defend early but over a minute in, Dern’s advances succeeded in turning it into a ground battle. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu champ slowly cut through Nunes’ defenses and eventually gained a full mount with two minutes left. The American defended well for a while, but with 12-seconds, left Dern secured the armbar and added her foes limb to her trophy case.
The 35-year-old fell short after making her return to the Octagon after 22-months away giving birth to and raising up, her baby with two-division champion and wife Amanda Nunes. She could end up swapping spots with the eleventh-ranked 28-year-old. It’s her fifth straight win and the seventh submission in 11 career wins. Dern has to get a top-five foe in a likely title-eliminator bout next.
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