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The UFC kicks off 2025 with a banger of a rematch five long years in the making. These two met on October 12th, 2019, with Ribas coming out on top. Will history repeat itself? Let's review the Main Card and then review the Main Event.
Kicking off the Main Card we have the anticipating and exciting bout between Punahele Soriano and Uros Medic. Both of these men have an astounding finish rate of above 80% with Medic never leaving the first round. The fight started out with Soriano blitzing aggressively to find an opening. It didn't take very long as he landed a counter left hook to right overhand combination that resulted in a knockdown. The subsequent stoppage wasn't long after, and it only took 31 seconds.
Following this quick fight, we have an exhilarating Featherweight fight between Christian Rodriguez and Austin Bashi. The fight started with Rodriguez landing a big right cross, a knee, and some subsequent takedown defense in the scramble. Bashi jumped for a backpack but couldn't work anything major and had to forfeit the position. The first round ended with Rodriguez looking good. The second round starts with Bashi looking for a takedown, but Rodriguez eventually gets taken down but is productive in trying to get up. Bashi goes back to the backpack in an attempt to look for a submission, but can't find anything. Rodriguez's kickboxing is looking good but Bashi gets another takedown. The final round kicks off with more takedown shots from Bashi with Rodriguez capitalizing and ending on top. Rodriguez has been throwing amazing combinations and making Bashi panic shoot. A great display in a new weight class from Rodriguez.
Up next we have one of my favorite matchups of the night in Roman Kopylov V. Chris Curtis. Curtis starts off pushing Kopylov on the back foot. Curtis's jab is leading him well but Kopylov is landing good lead calf kicks throughout the first. Curtis's boxing is catching Kopylov and is catching him with left hooks/uppercuts from the southpaw stance. Kopylov gets cut early in the second round and Curtis is going after it. Both are exchanging in the pocket with crisp boxing combinations. Big shots to open the final round from Kopylov. Curtis is stunned by a big left hand and Kopylov is landing big. Big shots are being thrown and landed by both men. Kopylov shoots for a takedown and lands and keeps the pressure on Curtis. Just as the fight is about to end, Kopylov lands a huge head kick and the ref calls the fight off questionably with one-second remaining.
Following that exciting fight, we have Cesar Almeida facing off against Abdul Razak Alhassan. Alhassan starts trying to work the outside of the cage and looking to land power strikes. Almeida starts early with long-distance straights and roundhouse kicks. Alhassan is throwing strong body and teep kicks. Alhassan lands a big right hand that knocks down Almeida, but after he gets up, Almeida lands a massive left hook that knocks Alhassan clean out. Amazing finish from the Brazillian.
The final fight before the Main Event is a Welterweight fight between Santiago Ponzibbio and Carlston Harris. The first round starts with a fast 1-2 from Harris. Harris is going for single power shots while Ponzibbio is trying to get in and out. Harris working the offensive clinch well. Both working the crashes really well. Harris tries looking for a knockout shot but Harris is landing good, quick shots and drops Ponzibbio twice and almost gets the finish. The second round starts with more exchanges between the two. Good strong exchanges from both men with Ponsibbio connecting more than Harris. Harris drops Ponzibbio once more with a stiff. Both men are throwing massive punches. The third round quickly jumps into a scramble and then stands up. The lead body hook for Harris is landing strongly, but Ponzibbio counters with a beautiful right straight for the knockout.
Onto the Main Event, we have Mackenzie Dern facing off against Amanda Ribas. Dern starts off by trying to work the outside and pepper Ribas. Both are throwing good combinations with no one connecting strongly. Dern times a beautiful single-leg takedown but Ribas works an active guard that takes us to the end of the round. The second round starts with another takedown shot from Dern and a great reversal from Ribas that ends with Ribas on top. Dern is being very aggressive from the bottom looking for a submission. Dern set up a beautiful omaplata to reverse the position. Ribas starts the third with early shots and looks to land quick and clean punches and kicks. Ribas lands a takedown and starts to land some good ground and pound shots. Dern locks in a vertical armbar on Ribas with time to work and flips position to land in mount. Dern takes advantage, transitions to high mount, into armbar position, and with four seconds, gets the tap to avenge her loss.
What a way to kick the year off for the UFC. Mackenzie Dern avenged her loss against Amanda Ribas, Cesar Almeida gets one of the best knockouts of the night, and Roman Kopylov gets a last-minute stoppage. We cannot wait for the rest of the year to come. Keep an eye out for a new episode of The Punchline with Elia Carranza on all streaming platforms. See you soon fight fans.
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