Mackenzie Dern

On the main card of UFC 273, we saw a pivotal matchup in the strawweight division. Top ten contenders battled it out as they looked to take...

However, a nice upkick from Torres immediately gets Dern off her and Torres quickly gets back up. Body kick lands for Torres and she’s throwing a lot here in the final minute. Nice side kick from Torres but Dern counters with a big body kick of her own. Nice ground and pound here from Dern and it looks like Torres is going to survive. Nice trip from Dern and she gets a takedown. They end up on the ground and Dern is cranking the submission, however, Torres is defending well. Good knee to the body from Dern and the two separate. Dern immediately presses forward and looks to work the jab to start the second. Nice right hand counter lands for Tecia Torres. Leg kick from Torres and Dern tries to get a body lock, but Torres shrugs her off. Low kick from Torres. Dern looks for a big right hand but it misses the mark. Nice right hand lands for Dern and she uses that to get a body lock. Dern looks a little sloppy here as she tries to close the distance.

World Champion grappler Mackenzie Dern had her hand raised via split-decision after a grueling 3 rounds against Tecia Torres. Torres was relentless with her ...

While she couldn’t get the tap, she was able to maintain control on the ground for most of the round. Unfortunately, Dern couldn’t get the right angle for the finish, but used the position to maintain a clinch, move to the legs, and almost finished a knee bar and toe hold. 🔒— UFC (@ufc) @MackenzieDernlocks in the SD victory after going the distance!

This Saturday, Dern will take on Tecia Torres in a featured strawweight fight on the main card of UFC 273. It's a pivotal fight for Dern who is coming off a ...

She’s just like, I’m gonna come forward and just be the Tiny Tornado that she is, and that’s the fighter that I want to fight. I want to fight the one that’s gonna bring that out in me and take me to the next level. I think she just overwhelmed them and didn’t care and just kept overwhelming them and didn’t let them get the rhythm in the fight... “I want to catch up to Charles Do Bronx on submission, most submissions in the UFC,” Dern said. I think that would be a big statement if I can get it because of all the girls she’s fought,” Dern told Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour. “She fought ex-champions, former champions, she’s been the pioneer of the strawweight division, she’s fought so many girls and no one’s been able to finish her. The No. 5-ranked strawweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings wants to make a statement on Saturday by becoming the first person to finish Torres.

Tonight's UFC 273 main card features a key women's strawweight bout between Mackenzie Dern and Tecia Torres.

Dern lands a kick to the body but falls in the process. Round three begins and Mackenzie Dern is back to applying immediate pressure on Tecia Torres. She lands a hard kick to the body of the ‘Tiny Tornado’. Another body kicks lands for Dern. She follows that up with a low kick. Mackenzie Dern with a combination. Torres responds with a side kick to the front leg of her opponent. She pulls it off and attacks the left leg of Torres. She goes for a heel hook and then switches to an ankle lock. She continues to press forward and lands a right hand. She attacks the left arm of Tecia and goes for a kimuar. Dern looks to transition and score a sweep. Mackenzie still has a hold of an arm and is looking to secure a submission. Dern forces the clinch and then leaps onto Torres with a body triangle. She lands a nice right as Dern attempts to get inside. She lands a right hand but Torres is able to counter with a good hook.

UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern got back in the win column in with a split decision win over Tecia Torres at UFC 273.

But, Dern was able to find her rhythm in Round 2 with her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and nearly finished the fight with multiple close submission attempts. UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern got back in the win column in with a split decision win over Tecia Torres at UFC 273. Mackenzie Dern outlasts Tecia Torres in a back-and-forth battle at UFC 273.

Follow the UFC 273 live blog for Mackenzie Dern vs. Tecia Torres, the strawweight main card fight on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Torres is one of the most accomplished veterans in the strawweight division. Most recently, Dern lost a decision to Marina Rodriguez in her first UFC main event. That pedigree has made Dern one of the most hyped prospects in women’s MMA, and while Dern has thus far had a good career, she has yet to make her way to a UFC title.

Mackenzie Dern edged out Tecia Torres at UFC 273. On Twitter, pro fighters reacted to the result.