LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – FEBRUARY 03: A general view of the Octagon prior to the UFC Fight Night event at … [+]
The UFC is finally back.
After a three-week absence at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025, promotion no. 1 in the MMA world is back in action on Saturday, January 11, at UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Prelims begin at 4:00 PM ET, and the main card begins at 7:00 PM
In the main event, No. 8 women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will look to match No. 9 contender Amanda Ribas. Dern lost a unanimous decision to Ribas in 2019.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Opponents Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas of Brazil square off … [+]
Both women would like to make a move up the strawweight ladder, so Saturday’s fight is hugely important. Also, due to the absence of the UFC, there may be a few more eyes on this main event as a large portion of the MMA community is hungry for a new event.
Friday saw the weigh-ins for UFC Vegas 101. All fights remain intact, although two fighters (Ihor Potieria and Jose Johnson) missed weight. Their opponents will take a percentage of their purse, but both fights will go ahead as scheduled at a catchweight.
Here’s a look at the finished card along with the weigh-in results:
- Mackenzie Dern (116) vs. Amanda Ribas (116)
- Santiago Ponzinibbio (171) vs. Carlston Harris (170)
- Abdul Razak Alhassan (185.5) vs. Cesar Almeida (185.5)
- Chris Curtis (185.5) vs. Roman Kopylov (185.5)
- Christian Rodriguez (145) vs. Austin Bashi (145.5)
- Uros Medic (171) vs. Punahele Soriano (171)
- Jose Johnson (128.5)* vs. Felipe Bunes (126)
- Marco Tulio (185.5) vs. Ihor Potieria (188)*
- Thiago Moises (155.5) vs. Trey Ogden (155.5)
- Preston Parsons (171) vs. Jacob Smith (170.5)
- Ernesta Kareckaite (126) vs. Nicolle Caliari (125.5)
- Magomed Gadzhiyasulov (205) vs. Bruno Lopes (205.5)
- Fatima Kline (116) vs. Victoria Dudakova (116)
- Nurullo Aliev (155.5) vs. Joe Solecki (155)
- (* Weight lost)
In addition to the main event, there are two other events that should pique the interest of MMA fans. Jacobe Smith is a world class wrestler who has made the transition to MMA. Smith was distinguished by season 8 i Dana White Contender Series.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: Jacobe Smith poses on the scales during the UFC Fight Night weigh-ins … [+]
Smith, 28, is making his main roster debut and he projects as someone who could make some noise in the lightweight division over the next two or three years. Saturday night could be the starting point of the second tier for him.
The same can be said for the talented Austin Bashi.
Like Smith, Bashi is an undefeated standout from the most recent season of DWCS. Bashi is only 23 years old and he is making his main roster debut at an even higher spot on the first card of 2025.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: Austin Bashi poses on the scales during the UFC Fight Night weigh-ins … [+]
Bashi is giving Christian Rodriguez a tough task, but that’s an indication of how highly UFC fighters think of the Michigan native.
Also on the main card, the Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida fight has all the potential to produce a crazy KO finish. Alhassan is a KO artist with some flaws in his defense, but unmistakable power and burst.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – JANUARY 10: (L-R) Opponents Cesar Almeida of Brazil and Abdul Razak Alhassan of … [+]
Almeida is still relatively new to MMA with just seven professional fights, but he is a complete kickboxer who owns a win over Alex Pereira in that sport.
The card isn’t star-studded, but there are some intriguing fights. Stay tuned for coverage after the event.
