UFC adds 4 more fights to 2024 final event

So Mackenzie Dern will rematch Amanda Ribas after all at UFC Tampa on December 14.

A day after the image confirming their fight was deleted, the UFC’s social media accounts made the Dern-Ribas clash official, along with three more fights.

Dern and Ribas have updated their rankings according to the latest state of play UFC.com.

In addition to this potentially pivotal strawweight fight, the UFC confirmed a fight between featherweight veterans Cub Swanson and Billy Quarantillo.

Something needs to be done with the matchup between Swanson, 40, and Quarantillo, 35. Both men have alternated between wins and losses in the last few fights. Following their recent pattern, both are due for a win. Barring a draw in the bout, either Swanson or Quarantillo will be on a two-fight losing streak.

That’s a scary place to be in the UFC this time of year. The promotion has been released or taken away to renew the contracts of wrestling veterans. On Tuesday, the UFC cut 12 fighters, including a former Olympic bronze medalist in taekwondo, Robelis Despaigne, a pioneering female mixed martial artist in Jessica Penne, and a Top 10 flyweight in Matheus Nicolau.

The loser of Swanson-Quarantillo could find himself in a similar situation.

Along the same lines, veteran lightweight Michael Johnson is 38 and has an MMA record of 22-19. He won his last fight in February via unanimous decision over Darrius Flowers, but the fights have been piling up.

Johnson’s opponent, Ottman Azaitar, may be even more vulnerable. Azaitar, 34, is on a two-fight losing streak, with the previous pair of defeats coming by KO. If he loses to Johnson, it would be surprising if he retains a roster spot.

No. 12 Tracy Cortez will battle Miranda Maverick in a women’s flyweight bout, challenging the former to retain her spot in the Top 15. A win for Maverick would put her in the Top 15, ahead of Cortez, and the question would be how far she falls with the loss.

That’s not a question Cortez wants to answer, and she always puts in a lot of effort, so it should be a fun fight.

Here’s a look at the full UFC Tampa card with all the fights confirmed and the rumors that are likely to persist.

• Amanda Ribas vs. Mackenzie Dern (115 lbs)
• Dustin Jacoby vs. Vitor Petrino (205 lbs)
• Tracy Cortez vs. Miranda Maverick (125 lbs)
• Manel Kape vs. Bruno Silva (125 lbs)
• Cub Swanson vs. Billy Quarantillo (145 lbs)
• Michael Johnson vs. Ottman Azaitar (155 lbs)
• Said Nurmagomedov vs. Daniel Marcos (135 lbs)
• Piera Rodriguez vs. Josefine Knutsson (115 lbs)
• Navajo Stirling vs. Tuco Tokkos (205 lbs)
• Davey Grant vs. Ramon Taveras (135 lbs)
• Drakkar Klose vs. Joel Alvarez (155 lbs)
• Sean Woodson vs. Fernando Padilla (145 lbs)

This weekend the UFC heads to Edmonton for a solid Fight Night card headlined by Brandon Moreno versus Amir Albazi and Rose Namajunas’ clash with Erin Blanchfield.

Stay tuned for fight week coverage, highlighted by results and post-event reactions.