Dern vs. Ribas updates, results of every fight

UFC Fight Night 249 takes place Saturday, and you can join us for live round-by-round coverage and official results beginning at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT). UFC Fight Night 249 (ESPN+) takes place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.

Women’s strawweight contenders Mackenzie Dern (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) and Amanda Ribas (12-6 MMA, 7-5 UFC) meet in the main event rematch. In the co-feature, Carlston Harris (19-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) takes on Santiago Ponzinibbio (29-8 MMA, 11-7 UFC) at welterweight.

Follow along with our round-by-round updates and official results beginning at approximately 4 p.m. ET for the prelims on ESPN+ and 7 p.m. ET for the main card on ESPN+.

Enjoy the fights, everyone.

Nicolle Caliari vs. Ernesta Kareckaite

Round 1 – Caliari starts the action with a couple of leg kicks as Kareckaite stalks forward. Kareckaite initiates a clinch, but abandons it pretty quickly. Caliari stings with a stiff right hand as she circles. Caliari looks for a takedown, but Kareckaite’s height makes it easy to defend. Kareckaite gets away and starts marching forward with punches. She’s putting together solid combinations, but Caliari is able to get a hold of her and look for another takedown. They return to the center, and Caliari shoots in again. She gets Kareckaite in the air, but can’t get her down. She keeps with it though, and trips out the leg to get Kareckaite down. Caliari can’t keep her down, but sticks with the body lock. Kareckaite gets away with 30 seconds to go. They’re trading punches now, both landing nicely. Kareckaite gets the better of the final exchange before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Caliari.

Round 2 – Kareckaite comes out pressing forward with straight punches. Caliari fires back with hooks. Caliari looks to change levels but gets reversed. Kareckaite takes top position in guard. Caliari looks to attack submissions, but Kareckaite decides to avoid the danger by returning to her feet. Kareckaite gets back to her forward-marching attack with punches. Caliari is game to exchange, but that doesn’t stop Kareckaite from applying pressure. Kareckaite continues to throw first as they trade punches to close out the round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Kareckaite.

Round 3 –

Result:
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Caliari (8-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC), Kareckaite (5-1-1 MMA, 0-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s flyeight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee:
Judging:

UFC Fight Night 249 main event expert prediction

UFC Fight Night 249 lineup

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

• Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Ribas
• Carlston Harris vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio
• Abdul Razak Alhassan vs. Cesar Almeida
• Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov
• Austin Bashi vs. Christian Rodriguez
• Uros Medic vs. Punahele Soriano

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

• Felipe Bunes vs. Jose Johnson
• Ihor Potieria vs. Marco Tulio
• Thiago Moises vs. Trey Ogden
• Preston Parsons vs. Jacobe Smith
• Nicolle Caliari vs. Ernesta Kareckaite
• Bruno Lopes def. Magomed Gadzhiyasulov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Fatima Kline def. Viktoriia Dudakova via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 4:27
• Nurullo Aliev def. Joe Solecki via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)

Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs. Bruno Lopes

Round 1 – They touch gloves, and Gadzhiyasulov opens the action with a couple of leg kicks. Lopes gets into the action with punches upstairs, prompting a few exchanges. Lopes eats a punch and then closes in to clinch along the fence. They work through the position, and Gadzhiyasulov eventually pushes him off. Lopes comes right back in to initiate the same position. Lopes looks to wrap up the leg for a trip, but it’s not there. A big level change now, and Lopes lifts Gadzhiyasulov for the slam just before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Lopes.

Round 2 – Gadzhiyasulov looks for a wheel kick in the opening exchange, but Lopes ducks out of danger. Lopes sees his chance to look for another takedown, resulting in a clinch along the fence. Lopes gets the single leg and and takes the fight to the mat. He lands a couple of strikes on the ground, but Gadzhiyasulov quickly scrambles up. Lopes doesn’t give him any room, and rushes back in to clinch. Gadzhiyasulov gets free this time and lands a right hand as Lopes closes in for the body lock. Gadzhiyasulov shakes free again and lands a side kick to the body. Lopes grabs a Thai clinch and gets a nice knee up the middle. Gadzhiyasulov looks for the takedown now, but Lopes reverses the clinch. Gadzhiyasulov gets free again and swings a big hook. Lopes is right back in on a single. He gives up on it and they both miss with wild strike attempts before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Lopes.

Round 3 – Gadzhiyasulov offers a few kicks to start, but doesn’t connect. Lopes closes in for the single leg, but Gadzhiyasulov gets away. Gadzhiyasulov kicks to the body, and then goes high but misses. Gadzhiyasulov looks for a spinning elbow, but Lopes reads it, then changes levels for the clinch. Gadzhiyasulov gets away again and lands a nice uppercut. Lopes shoots in again, gets Gadzhiyasulov to a knee, but can’t keep him down. Lopes keeps his hands clasped on the hips, though, and maintains control against the cage. Gadzhiyasulov finds an exit again, but only momentarily. Lopes shoots in and gets him down, but once again, Gadzhiyasulov pops up with a minute remaining. Lopes adds a knee as he works the clinch long the fence. An elbow and a couple of knees from Lopes now. He dumps Gadzhiyasulov one last time before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Lopes, giving him the fight 30-27.

Result: Bruno Lopes def. Magomed Gadzhiyasulov via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos:
Records: Gadzhiyasulov (9-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC), Lopes (14-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC)
Division: Light heavyweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Mark Smith
Judging:

Viktoriia Dudakova vs. Fatima Kline

Round 1 – They touch gloves and Kline gets to work first by firing a few quick strikes. Dudakova shoots in for a single leg, but the attempt is defended well. Kline even adds a few elbow on the exit. Dudakova resets, and shoots in again. This time she gets the fight to the ground, but ends up in an awkward position as Kline scrambles. An armbard was there momentarily for Dudakova, but Kline continued to scramble out of danger. Kline ends up in full guard, and somehow in that mix, Dudakova’s nose was busted open. Dudakova avoids ground and pound by looking for a kimura, but Kline gets free, scrambling to full mount. A couple of punches are added before the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Kline.

Round 2 – Dudakova wastes no time shooting in for a single leg. Kline stays upright, grabs a leg herself, and trips out the plant leg to get a takedown. Dudakova attempts to explode to her feet, but Kline floats well and keeps top position on the ground. Back to full mount for Kline with over three minutes to work. Dudakova throws up her legs and is able to create space. She scrambles to her feet, and gets right back on Kline’s hips. The takedown is reversed and Kline ends up on top again. Kline secures the position this time and begins raining down hard strikes. A cut is opened up from an elbow. Dudakova is hurt! Kline pours on the elbows and gets the TKO stoppage for the first finish of 2025!

Result: Fatima Kline def. Viktoriia Dudakova via TKO (elbows) – Round 2, 4:27
Recap:
Photos:
Records: Dudakova (8-2 MMA, 2-2 UFC), Kline (7-1 MMA, 1-1 UFC)
Division: Women’s strawweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Chris Tognoni

Nurullo Aliev vs. Joe Solecki

Round 1 – The first UFC fight of 2025 is underway in front of a raucous Apex crowd. The feel-out process begins, and Aliev makes the first big action by shooting and completing a takedown. While securing top position close to the fence, Aliev finds himself defending a triangle attempt from Solecki. Aliev patiently works his way out of the submission, and maintains top position in guard. Solecki does well to prevent the pass to half guard. Now Aliev starts to add ground and pound, mixing up punches to the body and head. The round ends in the same position.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Aliev.

Round 2 – Striking exchanges here to start Round 2. Solecki leads the way initially, but Aliev turns up the pressure and swings big hooks. He then sees an opening, and gets the fight back to the ground. Solecki throws up another triangle, and transitions to an armbar, but neither are there. Aliev scrambles to maintain top control and adds a few hard hammerfists and punches as Solecki works his way up. Solecki powers to a standing position to escape, but gets blasted with a hard right hand that sits him back down! Solecki covers up to defend the swarm of follow-up punches as Aliev tries to close the show. The finish isn’t there, but Aliev takes top position in guard and maintains it until the end of the round.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Aliev.

Round 3 – The final round begins and both fighters appear somewhat fatigued as they exchange punches on the feet. Solecki controls the center for a moment, but Aliev starts to sit on his punches more. The difference in power is apparent when Aliev lands, but Solecki is able to avoid big damage. Midway through the round now and they’re still trading strikes at a decent pace as they move about the cage. Aliev darts in with a combination, ripping to the body and head. He goes for it again, but this time Solecki changes levels and gets a takedown with about 40 seconds to go. He quickly takes full mount, postures up and rains down punches until the horn.

MMA Junkie scores the round 10-9 for Solecki, but the fight goes to Aliev 29-28.

Result: Nurullo Aliev def. Joe Solecki via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Photos:
Records: Aliev (10-0 MMA, 2-0 UFC), Solecki (13-5 MMA, 5-4 UFC)
Division: Lightweight
Broadcast: ESPN+
Referee: Kerry Hatley
Judging: Mike Bell (29-28), Sal D’Amato (29-28), David Lethaby (30-27)

UFC Fight Night 249 main card betting odds

MAIN CARD (ESPN+, 7 p.m. ET)

• Mackenzie Dern +160 vs. Amanda Ribas -190
• Carlston Harris +115 vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio -135
• Abdul Razak Alhassan +215 vs. Cesar Almeida -265
• Chris Curtis +185 vs. Roman Kopylov -225
• Austin Bashi -265 vs. Christian Rodriguez +215
• Uros Medic -205 vs. Punahele Soriano +170

UFC Fight Night 249 prelim betting odds

PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 4 p.m. ET)

• Felipe Bunes +140 vs. Jose Johnson -165
• Ihor Potieria +380 vs. Marco Tulio -500
• Thiago Moises -160 vs. Trey Ogden +135
• Preston Parsons +455 vs. Jacobe Smith -625
• Nicolle Caliari +220 vs. Ernesta Kareckaite -270
• Magomed Gadzhiyasulov -270 vs. Bruno Lopes +220
• Viktoriia Dudakova +575 vs. Fatima Kline -850
• Nurullo Aliev -750 vs. Joe Solecki +525