MMA
Mackenzie Dern makes women's UFC history with submission of Hannah Cifers
In the seven-year history of women competing in the UFC, no female fighter had accomplished what Mackenzie Dern pulled off at UFC Fight Night in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The highly touted Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner became the first woman to win a fight by a leglock submission when she scored a kneebar in the second round of her fight against Hannah Cifers at the UFC APEX.
It was Dern's fourth fight with the promotion and her first victory since suffering her first loss as a professional last October when she dropped a decision to Amanda Ribas.
Dern engaged in an early standup battle with Cifers and showcased improved striking throughout the first round. But everyone knows that her bread and butter is when the fight hits the mat, and the 27-year-old brought Cifers into her world early in the second round.
Dern executed a judo toss while clinching with Cifers and quickly sought to snatch up a limb. Cifers appeared to escape but allowed herself to be sucked in as Dern got a hold of her leg and sunk in a brilliantly executed kneebar. Cifers had no choice to tap out at the 2:36 mark and end up on the wrong side of women's MMA history.
Dern improves to 3-1 in her UFC tenure (8-1 overall) and is expected to be a force in the division.
