Amanda Ribas, who has been more successful at 115 pounds than as a flyweight, is headlining UFC Vegas 101 against Mackenzie Dern and remains open to fighting in both weight classes depending on opportunities, particularly if offered high-ranking opponents.
Amanda Ribas has an impressive record at 115 pounds, winning five of her six UFC bouts. Her performance at flyweight, however, stands at 2-3. Still, she hasn’t ruled out a return to the 125-pound division.
Ribas is set to headline UFC Vegas 101 against Mackenzie Dern, aiming for a spot in the title conversation post-Tatiana Suarez vs. Zhang Weili. Yet, she’s open to more flyweight opportunities.
“I like the flyweight division because I never face random opponents; it’s always someone good,” Ribas shared with MMA Fighting. Her recent losses at 125 pounds came against top contenders like Katlyn Cerminara and Maycee Barber.
“If the UFC offers me good fighters — and the 115 girls are booked — I’ll go,” she said. “I want to focus on 115, but it’s hard to say no to Mick Maynard when he’s offering high-ranked opponents [laughs].”
Back in 2019, Ribas was undefeated in the UFC when she first faced Dern. Now, she feels more experienced both in life and in the octagon, even ready to switch to southpaw if needed.
“I think I’m already a big name in the division,” Ribas stated, referencing her victory over Virna Jandiroba, now ranked No. 3. A win over Dern could propel her closer to a title shot.
“Who knows? Maybe Tatiana wins and gets injured, and I’m next,” she mused. “The UFC values active fighters with hype; they want champions who elevate their brand.”