Dern has ‘no doubts’ she will make weight at UFC Tampa

Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Mackenzie Dern wants to prove the world wrong when she steps on the scale at UFC Tampa, in October. Decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt Mackenzie Dern is anxious to go back to the Octagon, following the de…

MMA: UFC 224- Dern vs Cooper

Jason Silva-USA TODAY Sports

Mackenzie Dern wants to prove the world wrong when she steps on the scale at UFC Tampa, in October.

Decorated Brazilian jiu-jitsu blackbelt Mackenzie Dern is anxious to go back to the Octagon, following the delivery of her first child back in June. Paired up against Amanda Ribas at UFC Tampa, in October, the 26-year-old is confident that she will perform well—starting with the weigh-ins. This despite being just four months removed from giving birth.

In an interview with UFC Brasil’s YouTube channel, Mackenzie (who missed weight by a whopping seven pounds in her last outing) stated that she believes she will have a much easier time making weight this time around. And she even thinks fans will be shocked once they see how easily she will hit the strawweight mark.

“I weigh 123 pounds today,” Dern revealed. “I’m fighting at 115, so I still need to shed seven more pounds in eight weeks. Obviously I lost a lot of muscle mass, so I’ve been training a lot in order to gain those muscles back. I think my weight will remain the same for a while. It won’t go down as much while I’m gaining muscle, but I have no doubts I’ll easily make the weight. I think people will be shocked that, after pregnancy, I’ll make weight easier than before.”

Currently on a two-fight winning streak, Mackenzie Dern (7-0) has two wins in the UFC. In her debut, she edged out Ashley Yoder via split decision, back in March 2018. She followed that victory up with a rear-naked choke submission win over Amanda Cooper, in May of the same year.