Hot topics close

Mackenzie Dern dominates Angela Hill on mat in UFC main event ...

Mackenzie Dern dominates Angela Hill on mat in UFC main event
Mackenzie Dern showed off her skills on the feet and punished Angela Hill on the mat Saturday, winning a one-sided unanimous decision in the UFC Fight Night main event.
  • Jeff Wagenheim

May 20, 2023, 10:36 PM ET

Mackenzie Dern did not add to her record number of submissions, but showed off a different dimension of dangerousness 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 whose four submission wins inside the Octagon are the most in UFC strawweight history, spent much of the fight's 25 minutes in clinches or in control on the canvas, prime positions to set up a tap out. But Hill (15-13) defended gallantly, fending off several armbar attempts. Along the way, Hill absorbed much punishment, which showed on her swollen face and nearly shut left eye, but she survived to the final horn of a lopsided fight.

Two judges scored it 49-44 for Dern, and the third scored it 49-43.

"I tried to get the submission. I'm trying to catch up to Charles 'Do Bronx' [Oliveira] with the most submissions," Dern said, referring to the former men's lightweight champion, who has a UFC record 16 submissions. Gillian Robertson, who has competed at both flyweight and strawweight, has the most subs among women with seven.

Dern has been viewed as a grappling specialist, but it was her standup game that put her in position to succeed. Her early takedown attempts failed, but she got the fight to the canvas in the first round with a right hand that floored Hill. In the third, Dern wobbled her opponent with a lead knee to the chin.

Dern, who came in having lost two of her past three fights, let her hands go throughout, landing a career-high 126 significant strikes. Sixty-one of those came while in control on the canvas, where she spent nearly half of the fight.

Hill landed 66 significant strikes, enabling her to pass Frankie Edgar for second-most in UFC history. She has landed 1,820 in her Octagon career, putting her behind only Max Holloway (3,122).

"I felt good," said Dern, a 30-year-old who fights out of Huntington Beach, California. "I landed a lot of my striking." Hill, who is 38 and from San Diego, saw a two-fight winning streak come to an end. Her last 10 fights have gone to decision, and she is 4-6 in those bouts.

Afterward, Dern, who is No. 8 in the ESPN strawweight rankings, called out former champion Rose Namajunas. "I've never fought an ex-champion," she said. "I feel like I could have that opportunity now."

Similar shots
  • How might the striking exchanges look between Mackenzie Dern and Angela Hill this weekend
News Archive
  • Mexico Vs Germany
    Mexico Vs Germany
    Germany vs. Mexico final score: Hirving Lozano's goal stuns World Cup champs in huge upset
    16 Jun 2018
    1
  • 2028 Olympics
    2028 Olympics
    From Paris to Los Angeles: How the city is preparing for the 2028 ...
    11 Aug 2024
    2
  • Jessica Springsteen
    Jessica Springsteen
    Born to Ride: Jessica Springsteen wins silver at Tokyo 2020 Olympics
    7 Aug 2021
    2
  • Jared Bridegan
    Jared Bridegan
    Ex-wife of slain Microsoft exec Jared Bridegan charged with his ...
    18 Aug 2023
    3
  • The Amazing Johnathan
    The Amazing Johnathan
    John Szeles, Who Mixed Jokes With Gore as the Amazing Johnathan, Dies at 63
    24 Feb 2022
    1
  • Andorra
    Andorra
    England vs. Andorra - Football Match Report - September 5, 2021
    5 Sep 2021
    2
This week's most popular shots