UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 Prelim Results

A general view of the Octagon prior to the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on October 14, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

See The Fight Results, Watch Post-Fight Interviews With The Prelim Winners And More FromUFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2, Live From UFC APEX In Las Vegas, Nevada

By E. Spencer Kyte, On X @spencerkyte • Jan. 12, 2025

The 2025 slate got underway with a preliminary card packed with Dana White’s Contender Series grads and some of the top prospects on the roster, and the collection of talent that stepped into the Octagon did not disappoint.

Nurullo Aliev returned to action with the first victory of the year, while highly regarded prospects Fatima Kline and Jacobe Smith earned the first two finishes of the year, showing why so many people were so keen to see them make the walk this weekend. Later in the card, Thiago Moises claimed victory in his lightweight grudge match with Trey Ogden, Marco Tulio turned in his own stunning first-round stoppage win in his promotional debut, and Felipe Bunes closed things out with the first submission finish of the year.

It was an entertaining start to the year, and we have all the details on how things played out collected for your review below.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 Results

Main event: Mackenzie Dern defeats Amanda Ribas by submission (armbar) at 4:56 of Round 3
Co-main event: Santiago Ponzinibbio defeats Carlston Harris by TKO (strikes) at 3:13 of Round 3
Roman Kopylov defeats Chris Curtis by TKO (high kick) at 4:59 of Round 3
Christian Rodriguez defeats Austin Bashi by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Punahele Soriano defeats Uroš Medić by KO (right hand) at 0:31 of Round 1
Felipe Bunes defeats Jose Johnson by submission (armbar) at 2:04 of Round 1
Marco Tulio defeats Ihor Potieria by TKO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1
Thiago Moisés defeats Trey Ogden by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Jacobe Smith defeats Preston Parsons by KO (left hand) at 1:13 of Round 1
Ernesta Kareckaitė (29-28, 29-28) defeats Nicolle Caliari by split decision (29-28)
Bruno Lopes defeats Magomed Gadhziyasulov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fatima Kline defeats Viktoriia Dudakova by TKO (strikes) at 4:27 of Round 2
Nurullo Aliev defeats Joe Solecki by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

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Nurullo Aliev defeats Joe Solecki by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Competing for the first time in nearly two years, Nurullo Aliev maintained his unbeaten record, returning to action with a unanimous decision win over Joe Solecki to open the UFC’s 2025 campaign.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Nurullo Aliev Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

The native of Tajikistan, who earned his contract with a victory in Season 6 of Dana White’s Contender Series (DWCS), put Solecki on the canvas with relative ease in each of the first two rounds, navigating his way through a handful of submissions attempts to work from top position and control the action throughout. While Solecki was able to get into mount in the final minute of the fight, the power disparity between the two was clear prior, and allowed the undefeated lightweight to continue dictating the terms of engagement and getting the better of things.

Aliev moved to 10-0 overall with the victory, and having just turned 24 last month, he remains one of the more intriguing young names in the lightweight division. Tajikistan is becoming a hotbed of MMA action and fandom, and the “Tajik Eagle” is clearly going to be a big part of that going forward.

Fatima Kline defeats Viktoriia Dudakova by TKO (strikes) at 4:27 of Round 2

Fatima Kline was a half-step ahead of Viktoriia Dudakova more often than naught, resulting in the highly regarded prospect collecting a second-round stoppage win to earn her first UFC victory.

Fatima Kline Elbows Her Way To Victory | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

The strawweights engaged in a scramble-heavy contest, with Dudakova often initiating, but Kline frequently working her way to top position, where she quickly focused on delivering damage. After splitting the Russian open with a sharp elbow, Kline settled in and began unloading, forcing the stoppage.

Fatima Kline Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

This was an outstanding showing from the 24-year-old, who won titles in two weight classes under the CFFC banner prior to signing with the UFC. Now 7-1 and moving in the right direction again, Kline is definitely someone people should be paying close attention to as she continues to make the trek into the Octagon.

Bruno Lopes defeats Magomed Gadhziyasulov by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Light heavyweight DWCS grads Bruno Lopes and Magomed Gadhziyasulov engaged in a gruelling battle of attrition early on the opening card of the year, with the judges being called upon to sort out the result.

This was a battle of divergent styles, as Lopes sought to close the distance, clinch, and drag the fight to the ground, finding success in those phases., while Gadzhiyasulov was the quicker, more active and effective of the two in space. As the fight progressed and both men faded, Lopes’ ability to tie up and control things along the fence seemed to be the determining factor in the contest.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Bruno Lopes Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

When the scorecards were totalled and read aloud, it was in fact Lopes that emerged victorious, collecting a win in his promotional debut while handing Gadhziyasulov the first loss of his career. This is a good start for the 31-year-old Brazilian, and the initial 2025 win for the DWCS Class of ’24.

Ernesta Kareckaitė (29-28, 29-28) defeats Nicolle Caliari by split decision (29-28)

Ernesta Kareckaitė showcased her continually improving game in a competitive battle against fellow DWCS grad Nicolle Caliari at the UFC APEX on Saturday.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Ernesta Kareckaitė Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

The towering flyweight from Lithuania took a little time to settle into a rhythm, but once she did, the Season 7 alum did well to land combinations and mix her levels against Caliari. While the Brazilian had positive moments of her own, Kareckaitė's ability to largely keep things standing and mix her targets was enough to carry her through this one.

Just eight fights into her pro career and standing five-foot-nine with a 71-inch reach, Kareckaitė has the physical makeup to be a dilemma for opponents in the 125-pound weight class and tons of time to continue developing. This was a solid all-around effort to register her first UFC win and she should collect many more in the future.

Jacobe Smith defeats Preston Parsons by KO (left hand) at 1:13 of Round 1

Hello Jacobe Smith!

Stepping in on short notice, the Fortis MMA product and DWCS grad scored the first knockout win of the year, putting a left hook on the jaw of Preston Parsons that sent him crashing backwards to the canvas, ending the fight in a flash.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Jacobe Smith Gets Debut KO Win | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

After a dominant showing to earn a contract last fall, the standout wrestler showed he’s got hands as well. That’s now 10 wins in as many starts, including eight victories inside the distance.

Jacobe Smith Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

Just an incredible debut — and early birthday present to himself — for the impressive welterweight newcomer.

Thiago Moisés defeats Trey Ogden by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

After chasing the opportunity to share the Octagon with one another, Thiago Moises and Trey Ogden finally mixed it up on Saturday afternoon, with the Brazilian rallying to secure the unanimous decision win.

Ogden was the more effective of the two in the opening round, throwing and landing more while keeping Moises off balance with fakes, feints, and constant activity. Moises won the second, taking Ogden off his feet with a thudding low kick that allowed him to work into top position and stay there for the remainder of the round, before reversing out of a back-take attempt early in the third, settling into the guard, and grinding out the clock.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Thiago Moisés Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

While not the most dynamic performance, this was a good “get right” win for Moises, halting the tidy two-fight winning streak of Ogden. Previously ranked in the Top 15, the American Top Team product is eager to get back into the rankings, and this victory is a step in the right direction.

Marco Tulio defeats Ihor Potieria by TKO (strikes) at 3:04 of Round 1

Marco Tulio wasn’t going to let Jacobe Smith be the only newcomer to register an impressive finish on Saturday night.

Marco Tulio Gets A Debut KO Win | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

Once his bout with Ihor Potieria got restarted following an accidental low blow, the recent DWCS grad cracked “The Duelist” with a right hand that looked like it might end the fight. Potieria survived and tried to fight back, but Tulio smelt blood and kept firing, eventually connecting with enough forcible follow-ups to bring about the stoppage.

Marco Tulio Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

This was an outstanding showing from the debuting middleweight, who has now won nine straight. That’s now a pair of first-round stoppages in three fights for the most recent class of Contender Series grads, who might end up being the best class to emerge from the series yet.

Felipe Bunes defeats Jose Johnson by submission (armbar) at 2:04 of Round 1

Felipe Bunes registered the first submission finish of 2025, chasing down an armbar to wrap up a frenetic two-minute scrap with Jose Johnson.

Main Card Results | Official Scorecards

Felipe Bunes Snatches First-Round Submission | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

Johnson came out looking sharp, landing well at range and toss Bunes around without much resistance. But when they hit the canvas, Bunes immediately started looking for armbars, and while Johnson defended well initially, he continued to leave his arm exposed, and the Brazilian eventually went belly-down to get the tab.

Felipe Bunes Post-Fight Interview | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

After landing on the wrong side of a stoppage on the first card of last year, the 35-year-old Brazilian closed out the preliminary card slate by registering his first UFC victory. For Johnson, who missed weight on Friday, that’s now consecutive losses since dropping to flyweight and three setbacks in four fights since joining the promotion.

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 took place live from UFC APEX in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 11, 2025. See the final Prelim & Main Card Results, Official Scorecards and Who Won Bonuses - and relive the action on UFC FIGHT PASS!

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Prelim Results | UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2

UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 Results