UFC on ESPN 9 video: Mackenzie Dern taps out Hannah Cifers with nasty knee bar

Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Mackenzie Dern is back on track.

Following the first loss of her career, the multi-time grappling champion returned to her roots by locking up a nasty knee bar to tap out Hannah Cifers in the opening round of their fight to kick off the main card at UFC on ESPN 9 on Saturday night.

It was also the first leg-lock submission in the history of the women’s divisions in the UFC.

“It feels so good,” Dern said afterwards. “I’m so happy to get the submission. Jiu-jitsu is always going to save me.”

Too good on the ground!

@MackenzieDern secures the RD 1 submission. #UFCVegas

Main card continues on @ESPN and E+ pic.twitter.com/i2BHp9Lu2F

— UFC (@ufc) May 31, 2020

Before she locked in the submission, Dern had to deal with a fight-ready opponent as Cifers looked strong early as she muscled around the Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and resisted her every attempt to control the clinch. Unfortunately for Cifers, she eventually ended up in a scramble with Dern on the ground and that was the last place she wanted to be.

While Cifers was on top, she failed to move her leg out of the way and Dern was quick to latch onto the limb before trapping her in the knee bar. As Dern went belly down on the mat, she hyperextended Cipher’s knee and she had no choice but to tap out or risk serious injury to her leg.

The end came at 2:51 in the first round.

Dern has long been considered a top prospect for the strawweight division and she showed why yet again with her lightning quick finish over Cifers at UFC on ESPN 9.