Mackenzie Dern vs Ashley Yoder at UFC 222
MMAFighting is reporting that uber-hyped grappling prospect Mackenzie Dern will make her UFC debut against Ashley Yoder at UFC 222. Dern (5-0) is one of the most accomplished female Brazilian jiu-jitsu artists to transition to mixed martial arts. She most recently competed in the co-main event of Invicta FC 26 in December, winning via third round armbar submission over Kaline Medeiros. The 24-year-old trains out of the MMA Lab and has won three of her five professional fights via submission.
Yoder (5-3) is a veteran of The Ultimate Fighter season 23 and it appears she’s getting fed to the wolves here. She went 0-1 on TUF and has gone 0-2 thus far in the UFC, with all of her losses coming via decision. Dern will look to be the first to finish the 30-year-old Yoder since she turned pro in 2014.
Yoder isn’t a pushover, but due to Dern’s hyped prospect status, I would expect Dern to be a massive betting favorite, opening at least in the -500 area, if not higher.
UFC 222 will take place March 3rd at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. No main event has been announced thus far, but several other bouts have been connected to the card.
185 lbs.: C.B. Dollaway vs. Hector Lombard
135 lbs.: Cat Zingano vs. Ketlen Vieira
135 lbs.: Sean O’Malley vs. Andre Soukhamthath
265 lbs.: Stefan Struve vs Andrei Arlovski
115 lbs.: Mackenzie Dern vs. Ashley Yoder
Free Fight: Doo Ho Choi vs Cub Swanson
Doo Ho Choi is headlining the next UFC Fight Night event against Jeremy Stephens, so UFC has released his Fight of the Year candidate against Cub Swanson for free.
Stay tuned to MMAOddsBreaker.com for more updates as they come.
