UFC Fight Night Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas 2 Full Fight Card Predictions

Check out predictions for every matchup on the first UFC card of the year.

Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

The UFC returns this Saturday with a Fight Night card at the UFC Apex, and MMA KO’s Drew Beaupré is here to provide predictions for all 14 of the night’s matchups.

UFC Fight Night Main Card Predictions

Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas

Dern rebounded well from her first MMA loss against Ribas in 2019 with four-straight wins, but since then the 31-year-old has gone 3-4 across her last seven fights.

Oct 12, 2019; Tampa, FL, USA; Mackenzie Dern (red gloves) fights Amanda Ribas (blue glove) during UFC Fight Night at Amalie Arena. / Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

Ribas has also alternated wins and losses as of late, but while she’s certainly been competitive at women’s flyweight and is currently that division’s #10-ranked contender I think a return to strawweight against Dern should prove that this is her ideal weight class.

(Pick: Ribas)

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Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris

Both of these men could really use a win to kick off 2025, especially considering Ponzinibbio has lost back-to-back fights and is 2-5 dating back to 2021.

Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Santiago Ponzinibbio (red gloves) fights Muslim Salikhov (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

“Argentine Dagger” has shared the Octagon with some big names during an extremely successful UFC run, but even though he’s only a year older than Harris it seems like Ponzinibbio has slowed down quite a bit at this late stage of his career.

(Pick: Harris)

Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. César Almeida

Almeida has lost quite a bit of hype following his last two performances, but this matchup with Alhassan looks like it’s been put together with the hope that both men will stand and trade until one of them hits the canvas.

Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cesar Almeida (red gloves) fights Ihor Potieria (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

“Judo Thunder” could try and follow Roman Kopylov’s blueprint and surprise Almeida with some takedowns, but in a straight-up firefight I have to side with the Brazilian to get things done if Alhassan can’t connect with something big early on.

(Pick: Almeida)

Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov

I personally would have put this fight in the co-main event slot over Ponzinibbio vs. Harris given that it’s a matchup between two high-level strikers that are both sitting just outside of the UFC’s middleweight Top 15.

Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Cesar Almeida (red gloves) fights Roman Kopylov (blue gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

I don’t know that Kopylov should be favored quite as heavily as he currently is, but I do think the Russian will be able to outland Curtis in what should hopefully be one of the night’s most entertaining fights.

(Pick: Kopylov)

Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez

Bashi is probably the most-hyped of several debuting fighters on this card, which is why I’m a little surprised that he’s been matched up with a fighter that’s already handed three undefeated prospects their first professional losses.

Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Raul Rosas Jr (red gloves) fights Christian Rodriguez (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. / Rich Storry-Imagn Images

Rodriguez has been consistently underrated during his UFC run and could absolutely play spoiler once again here, but I’ll side with Bashi to get things done and extend his unbeaten record to 14-0.

(Pick: Bashi)

Punahele Soriano vs. Uros Medic

Soriano bested Miguel Baeza in his only appearance of 2024 to avoid a third-straight loss, but his position in the UFC is still anything but solid considering he’s 4-4 overall in the promotion.

Jul 29, 2023; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Uros Medic (blue gloves) reacts to defeating Matthew Semelsberger (red gloves) during UFC 291 at Delta Center. / Jeff Swinger-Imagn Images

“Puna” does boast some knockout power in his own right, but I have to pick Medic to preserve his 100% finishing rate and score his second win in a row after knocking out Tim Means in April.

(Pick: Medic)

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UFC Fight Night Preliminary Card Predictions

Jose Johnson vs. Felipe Bunes

Felipe Bunes of Brazil punches Joshua Van of Myanmar in a light heavyweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX. / (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images)

The featured prelim for UFC Vegas 101 showcases a pair of entertaining flyweights, and unfortunately for Bunes I expect that Johnson will get the job done and hand the Brazilian his second loss after being stopped by Josh Van in his UFC debut last year.

(Pick: Johnson)

Marco Tulio vs. Ihor Potieria

Oct 5, 2024; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Cesar Almeida (red gloves) fights Ihor Potieria (blue gloves) during UFC 307 at Delta Center. / Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Potiera is likely fighting for his spot on the UFC roster here after going 2-5 with the promotion thus far, and he certainly hasn’t been given a forgiving matchup against a dangerous debutant in Tulio.

(Pick: Tulio)

Thiago Moisés vs. Trey Ogden

Apr 8, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Ignacio Bahamondes (red gloves) fights Trey Ogden (blue gloves) during UFC 287 at Miami-Dade Arena. / Rich Storry-Imagn Images

This is one of the more underrated matchups at UFC Vegas 101, and while Moisés is rightfully favored here I think Ogden has the skills necessary to pull off the minor upset.

(Pick: Ogden)

Preston Parsons vs. Jacobe Smith

Mar 25, 2023; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Trevin Giles (red gloves) fights Preston Parsons (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at AT&T Center. / Aaron Meullion-Imagn Images

Parsons was scheduled to welcome Andreas Gustaffson to the UFC before being matched up with another debuting opponent in Smith, and I’ll slightly lean with “Pressure” to rebound from the loss he suffered in July against Oban Elliott.

(Pick: Parsons)

Ernesta Kareckaite vs. Nicolle Caliari

May 4, 2024; Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BRAZIL; Dione Barbosa (red gloves) fights Ernesta Kareckaite (blue gloves) during UFC 301 at Rio Arena. / Jason Silva-Imagn Images

Kareckaite came up short in her own promotional debut against Dione Barbosa in May, but I expect that a considerable height and reach advantage should allow her to spoil Caliari’s first UFC outing here.

(Pick: Kareckaite)

Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes

Bruno Lopes of Brazil punches Mikheil Sazhiniani of Georgia in a light heavyweight fight during Dana White's Contender Series Seaason Eight, Week One. / (Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

Lopes earned a UFC contract in his second Dana White’s Contender Series opportunity in August, and while he’s currently an underdog against the undefeated Gadzhiyasulov I’m going to pick the Brazilian to score an upset-win in his Octagon debut.

(Pick: Lopes)

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Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline

Jul 13, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Jasmine Jasudavicius (red gloves) fights Fatima Kline (blue gloves) during UFC Fight Night at Ball Arena. / Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images

Kline was given a tough task in her UFC debut against top women’s flyweight contender Jasmine Jasudavicius, and even though Dudakova is also coming off her first professional loss I expect that “The Archangel” will remind fans why she’s such a highly-touted prospect in this fight.

(Pick: Kline)

Nurullo Aliev vs. Joe Solecki

Jun 1, 2024; Newark, New Jersey, USA; Joe Solecki (blue gloves) fights Grant Dawson (red gloves) during UFC 302 at Prudential Center. / Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

It’s been nearly two years since Aliev won his UFC debut against Rafael Alves, and while I don’t love how heavily-favored he is against an experienced veteran in Solecki this fight is a big opportunity for him to finally move past the controversy in that Alves matchup.

(Pick: Aliev)

MMA KO will be providing comprehensive coverage for UFC Vegas 101 all throughout fight week, and be sure to check back on our homepage for a preview of the event as well as live results and highlights on fight night.

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