UFC 224 live blog: Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Cooper

This is the UFC 224 live blog for Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Cooper, a 123-pound catchweight bout at Saturday night’s UFC event at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro.

The bout was originally scheduled as a strawweight encounter, but Dern missed the mark by seven pounds.

Dern, a decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner with a 6-0 professional MMA record, fights Cooper, an Ultimate Fighter finalist who has gone 2-2 in the UFC, on the main card.

Check out the UFC 224 live blog below.

Round 1: This one should be interesting, as Dern came in seven pounds above the strawweight limit — and Cooper was rightfully pissed. The referee for this one is Osiris Maia. No touch of gloves, not surprisingly. Dern to the center, and they are sizing each other up. A left hand from Dern, and Cooper comes over top with a right. No mustard on that, and Dern rolls her shoulder and wheels around. A couple of left hands from Dern, and then she retreats and avoids the retaliation from Cooper. Awkward there for Dern. Dern with a big overhand right, and though it didn’t land flush it did land. Nice leg kick from Cooper, who is standing her ground. A big right from Dern, and that drops Cooper! Now Dern into mount, and immediately slamming Cooper with punches. Dern gets her back, and now her neck...it’s deep! And that’s it. Rear-naked choke. Damn. Dern dropped her with a punch first, then made short work of Cooper on the canvas.

UFC 224 official results: Mackenzie Dern def. Amanda Cooper via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:27 of R1