Blanchfield Takes Down "The " in Edmonton: A New Era for Women's Strawweight?
Let's be real, the fight world was buzzing about this one. "The Queen of the North" herself, Mackenzie Dern, taking on the former champ Rose Namajunas at UFC 291 in Edmonton! Dern, with her Brazilian jiu-jitsu prowess, was a huge favorite, but Namajunas is always a threat. We knew things were gonna get wild!
From the first bell, Dern came out guns blazing. She was landing some serious strikes and looked super confident. You could see in Namajunas' eyes that she was in for a tough fight. Dern's pressure was relentless, and she was really mixing it up with her hands and legs. It looked like she was going to take Namajunas out early, but the champ showed her grit and resilience.
The second round got really interesting. Namajunas started finding her range and landed some nice combinations. You could see her gaining momentum, but it was a tough climb back. Dern was still in control, but Namajunas was hanging in there. The final round was a slugfest! Dern kept the pressure on, but Namajunas was throwing back with everything she had. The crowd went wild!
In the end, the judges saw it for Dern. It was a unanimous decision victory for the Brazilian star. This win puts Dern right back in the title picture, and it's gonna be interesting to see what happens next. Is she the new queen of the strawweight division? Only time will tell! But one thing's for sure, this fight was a knockout!
Dern's Dominance: A Look at the Numbers
- Total strikes: Dern landed 78 strikes, compared to Namajunas' 46.
- Significant strikes: Dern landed 45 significant strikes, while Namajunas landed 26.
- Takedowns: Dern successfully landed 2 of her 4 takedown attempts, while Namajunas was 0 for 1.
- Control time: Dern had 6:53 of control time, compared to Namajunas' 1:54.
Dern's ground game was a major factor in the win. She consistently pressured Namajunas, making her fight on her terms. This was a dominant performance from Dern, and it's a sign of things to come.
What's Next for Dern?
Dern's win over Namajunas has catapulted her to the top of the strawweight division. With her next fight likely to be a title shot, the question becomes: who will she face?
The current champ Carla Esparza is coming off a controversial victory over Weili Zhang. Will they rematch? Or will the UFC give Dern a shot at the title?
With her relentless pressure and lethal jiu-jitsu, Dern is a true force in the division. This win has solidified her position as a top contender, and she is ready to make her mark on the strawweight division!
This fight was a real barn burner! If you missed it, you gotta check it out! Dern's performance was impressive, and this was a real turning point for the women's strawweight division. The future is bright for Dern, and we can't wait to see what she does next!