Mackenzie Dern Misses Weight by 7 Pounds
Mackenzie Dern, one of UFC’s rising stars, faced controversy ahead of her strawweight bout at UFC 224 in Rio de Janeiro. On Friday, Dern weighed in at 123 pounds, seven pounds over the strawweight non-title limit of 116 pounds.
Speaking to MMA Junkie earlier in the week, Dern admitted that questions about her weight persist:
“They’re always asking me about my weight. Those questions won’t be stopping anytime soon.”
Her opponent, Amanda Cooper, expressed her frustration on Twitter:
“Not shocked @MackenzieDern missed weight, but 7.4 lbs over is a disgrace to all professionals. #ufc224 strawweight vs flyweight tomorrow night in Brazil.”
Despite the weigh-in drama, the fight went ahead, marking Dern’s second appearance in the UFC.
Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza Blames Weight Cut for Loss to Kelvin Gastelum
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza entered UFC 224 with confidence, hoping to extend his winning streak against Kelvin Gastelum. However, after a close split-decision loss, Souza acknowledged that his preparation wasn’t ideal.
During the post-fight press conference, Souza revealed that an ineffective weight cut impacted his performance:
“Nobody likes to lose. I should’ve cut weight better. I always cut weight well, but this time I jumped rope a bit too much because there was no sauna in the hotel.”
The loss marked a setback for Souza, who remains a top contender in the UFC’s middleweight division.
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos Delivers Stunning Knockout
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos stole the show on the UFC 224 undercard with a spectacular spinning wheel kick knockout of Sean Strickland in the first round. The Brazilian followed up the perfectly timed head kick with a series of punches, securing his fifth consecutive UFC victory.
The knockout showcased dos Santos’ capoeira training, a Brazilian martial art that combines elements of dance, acrobatics, and music. Fans and analysts praised the highlight-reel finish, with one commentator tweeting:
“That was phenomenal!”
Main Event Recap: Amanda Nunes Retains Bantamweight Title
In the main event, Amanda Nunes, nicknamed “The Lioness,” successfully defended her women’s bantamweight title against eighth-ranked American contender Raquel Pennington. Nunes continued her dominance, cementing her status as one of the greatest female fighters in UFC history.