Mackenzie Dern

Check out the official scorecard for the UFC Vegas 61 main event between Yan Xiaonan and Mackenzie Dern.

Were it not for Bell’s 10-8, the fight would have been unanimously scored for Xiaonan by a tally of 48-47. But the 10-8 for Dern resulted in a draw on Bell’s card, resulting in a majority decision. Xiaonan survived a dicey fifth round where she appeared in deep trouble as Mackenzie Dern hunted for submissions from top position in the UFC APEX headliner in Las Vegas.

Check out the betting odds for UFC Vegas 61, which have Mackenzie Dern favored over Xiaonan Yan in the main event.

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Yan showed improved grappling skills in fending off submission ace Dern over the course of five rounds in Las Vegas.

With the fight potentially on the line in the fifth, Dern was able to work inside and drag the fight to the floor, where she quickly moved to the back and was able to work in her hooks. 5 Dern (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC) falls to 1-2 in her past three contests. Dern shot forward early in the fourth, latching on to a single-leg takedown that she wasn't able to convert. Yan landed a few punishing kicks to the body, as well as big punches up top, all while using active footwork to keep away from any further grappling exchanges. Undeterred, Dern was able to maneuver into position for a deep arm-triangle attempt before abandoning it to move to mount. She did eventually work the action to the canvas late in the frame, though she was largely unable to capitalize with any real submission attempts.

Xiaonan managed to defend well on the ground and prevent Dern from locking in any of her nasty submissions.

Xiaonan's ability to survive the dangerous end to the fight proved to be enough as she managed to make it to the final bell and take the win via majority decision by scores of 48-47, 48-47 and 47-47. As Dern became visibly frustrated, Xiaonan relied on her movement and strength to pop off strikes while not being sucked into dangerous exchanges on the ground. Xiaonan did well in the first round, landing leg kicks and using movement to poke at Dern with a variety of punches.

Yan Xiaonan moves to 16-3 and closer to a strawweight title shot after her win over Mackenzie Dern on Saturday. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC).

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Yan Xiaonan defeated Mackenzie Dern at UFC Vegas 61. On Twitter, pro fighters reacted to the main event.

Dern is dangerous af, great job ladies.— Angela Hill (@AngieOverkill) [@lastcall155]two weeks ago and he said he put a lot of work in with Yan this camp. [#UFCVegas61] [October 2, 2022]

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Yan took place Oct. 1 at the UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada. Strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern (12-3) and Yan Xiaonan (16-3, 1 NC) ...

Round 5: Dern comes out swinging for the fences, and gets in tight to clinch Yan against the fence. Yan able to get back to her feet and Dern lands a jab to the body. Dern gets in close and lands a short uppercut, Yan comes up short on a nasty elbow, and Dern looks for another throw. Dern is so close to an armbar and she’s got it. Under 40 seconds and Yan lands a clean right hand and a counter leg kick, Dern returns with one of her own, but Yan keeps crushing the lead leg. Yan trying to escape this awful position, and she clears a hook, but just for a second. Yan defending, and Dern looks for an armbar, then transitions to a triangle attempt, then around to the back again. Dern comes up way short on a high kick, and Yan drills a right hand to the right eye of Dern, which is starting to show the damage. Final two minutes of the round, Dern seems to have recovered, but eats a hard leg kick. Dern executing an omoplata and Yan is in a little bit of trouble here with over two minutes to work. Dern holding on to a single leg and Yan is desperately trying to defend. Round 3: Leg kick from Yan immediately, another one as Dern tries to move forward.