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The UFC is back after a three-week holiday break with Fight Night 249 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Saturday night’s main card features several highly anticipated matchups, headlined by a strawweight rematch between Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Ribas, two of the division’s top contenders.
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Main Event: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas
The main event pits Mackenzie Dern (15-5) against Amanda Ribas (12-6) in a rematch that has been brewing since Ribas handed Dern her first professional loss in 2019. Dern, ranked No. 6, is coming off a strong win against Loopy Godinez in August and is looking to prove her elite standing in the strawweight division. Ribas returns to the 115-pound division after a stint at flyweight, where she went 2-3, including a loss to Rose Namajunas last March.
Ribas is the betting favorite at -190, but Dern has drawn significant public support, receiving 75% of the total bets at +160 odds. This clash of styles—Dern’s world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu against Ribas’ balanced striking and grappling—could dictate who moves closer to title contention in the strawweight division.
Co-Main Event: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Carlston Harris
Veteran welterweights Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-8) and Carlston Harris (19-6) square off in the co-main event. Ponzinibbio, 38, is looking to snap a two-fight skid, including a split-decision loss to Muslim Salikhov in 2024. Harris is also coming off a knockout loss to Khaos Williams, making this fight crucial for both fighters’ momentum.
Initially an underdog at +105, Ponzinibbio has become the -145 favorite due to heavy public backing, with 94% of the money on him. Harris, now at +120, will look to spoil the Argentine’s comeback efforts.
Cesar Almeida vs. Abdul Razak Alhassan
Cesar Almeida (3-1 in the UFC) and Abdul Razak Alhassan (12-5) clash in a fight of contrasting trajectories. Almeida bounced back from a loss to Roman Kopylov with a win at UFC 307. Meanwhile, Alhassan hasn’t secured a victory in two years but remains dangerous, having finished all 12 of his career wins.
Almeida is the -275 favorite, supported by 73% of the money, while Alhassan has drawn significant attention at +220, garnering 77% of the total bets.
Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
In the middleweight division, Chris Curtis looks to recover from a co-main event loss to Brendan Allen, where he suffered a torn hamstring. Roman Kopylov continues to build momentum after defeating Almeida, improving his record to 6-1 in his past seven fights.
Kopylov is the -225 favorite, but Curtis is a popular underdog, receiving 80% of the bets and 81% of the money at +185.
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Christian Rodriguez vs. Austin Bashi
Featherweight veteran Christian Rodriguez (4-2 in the UFC) takes on Austin Bashi, who makes his promotional debut after impressing on Dana White’s Contender Series. Rodriguez will look to bounce back from a submission loss to Julian Erosa, while Bashi enters as the -275 favorite.
Despite Bashi’s favored status, Rodriguez has drawn significant action, with 66% of the bets supporting his +220 underdog odds.
Punahele Soriano vs. Uros Medic
In the welterweight opener, Punahele Soriano and Uros Medic both seek to establish themselves in the division. Soriano has dropped four of his last five fights but recently found success after moving to welterweight. Medic, who moved up from lightweight, has won two of his first three fights in the division.
The betting public is split, with Soriano receiving 53% of the bets at +185, while Medic has 57% of the money at -225.
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Final Thoughts
UFC Fight Night 249 offers a packed lineup of fights with compelling storylines and intriguing betting dynamics. Whether it’s the high-stakes rematch between Dern and Ribas or the bounce-back opportunities for fighters like Ponzinibbio and Curtis, Saturday promises action for fans and bettors alike.
