Mackenzie Dern found little in the way of resistance from GIllian Robertson for most of her first strawweight title defense tonight at UFC 330 as she got the better of her on the feet and on the mat, then had to do a little defense work on the mat in the final five minutes.
Round One
The strawweight co-main event is underway in Philadelphia.
Robertson looking for low kicks but Dern wades in with a forward barrage of punches.
Dern looking for the neck as she walks Robertson over to the cage. Robertson reverses the clinch, but they soon separate.
Leg kick from Dern. Body punch and then a left hook from Dern. Now a solid leg kick.
Dern feeling out with the jab. Now Robertson comes forward behind hers. Dern back to the leg kick.
Dern comes up short with an elbow strike. Now she kicks to the body. Dern follows up by going for a takedown and lands it.
Dern stands over Robertson and drops down a few hammerfists, then goes down into half-guard.
Dern starting to work for a potential kimura. More than a minute remaining in the round. She blasts Robertson’s thigh with elbow strikes. Robertson gets free of the kimura.
Robertson goes to her knees and Dern takes her back and starts to flatten her out. Dern works for a rear-naked choke late in the round, but it’s not quite in tight. Robertson stays calm and in the final seconds after Dern adjusts the choke she gives a thumbs up to show she’s still ok.
Round Two
Body kick for Dern. Good takedown from her now in the center of the Octagon. She’s into half-guard and continuing with the one-way traffic in this fight so far.
Dern passing to side-control now. Soon after she progresses to the back. Dern goes to her back and works for an arm-in choke. However, Robertson is able to get free and is now on top.
Dern now trying for a possible leg lock. They roll and Dern gradually gets to a more advantageous position.
Dern still working on the leg, but Robertson lands some hammerfists to her face. Dern now sitting on Robertson’s stomach and gradually turns into a conventional half-guard.
Round Three
Dern’s striking certainly looks improved here as she pieces together some crisp punches and the occasional kick. It’s made easier by the fact Robertson has never really got anything going striking wise.
Dern circles around and lands the jab. Now a couple of leg kicks. Robertson with a right and left hand.
Dern goes in for a takedown and Robertson defends that one. Dern drives her over to the cage in the clinch while eating a few short shots.
Dern with a few knees to the thighs before backing away. A couple of light jabs for Robertson. Right hand from Dern and then kicks.
Dern works to the body. Robertson steps in with a right hand. Jab and a body kick from Dern.
Right hand for Dern. Now a solid low kick. Light low kick from Robertson. A few missed strikes from Robertson as she tries to get something going without success.
Robertson looking to work the jab, but Dern times a takedown well. Dern stacks up and then drops down to take the back as Robertson turtles. Knee to the body for Dern before the horn sounds.
Round Four
Low kick from Dern off some punches. Dern throws some more punches to disguise a nice takedown entry and lands it.
Robertson turtles and Dern secures her back. Body triangle in for Dern as she works from her back now.
Robertson trying to rotate into Dern, but then has to fend off a potential rear-naked choke.
Midway through the round Dern tries to soften up Robertson with a few punches. Robertson trying to throw a few punches behind her, but she’s going to need a lot more than that to get back into this fight.
Robertson able to rotate and get on top. Elbow from Robertson. Dern works for a armbar off her back, but Robertson is defending to prevent that and stay on top. Bit of a stalemate from here.
Dern trying to go for a leg in the final 10 seconds and Robertson opts to land some ground-and-pound.
Round Five
Dern with a punching combination to start the final round. Solid body kick. Robertson looks to clinch up against the cage. She drops down and works a single-leg to bring Dern down.
Dern bringing her legs into play to keep Robertson from settling into guard. Finally Robertson is able to get into guard.
Dern trying to manufacture something off her back, working for a potential leg lock, forcing Robertson to defend. Nothing comes of that though.
Bit of a stalemate here with Robertson struggling to get off any real meaningful offense so far as we head into the final minute.
Robertson working a few light punches and elbows. Final 10 seconds she gets a bit more aggressive, but it’s far too little too late.
Decision
No doubt about the winner here then, with Dern comfortably winning the first four rounds, and wasn’t in much danger even when Robertson got some control time on top in the final five minutes. Dern wins by unanimous decision (49-46 x2, 48-47).
