Tag: Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez Preview/Prediction

A pair of strawweights take center stage as UFC Vegas 39 features Marina Rodriguez facing Mackenzie Dern tomorrow night. Dern remains tied with Yan Xiaonan for the #4 ranking at strawweight. Rodriguez looks to earn top-five recognition with a win this weekend to advance her claim toward UFC gold. Rodriguez’s only loss in the UFC […]

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A pair of strawweights take center stage as UFC Vegas 39 features Marina Rodriguez facing Mackenzie Dern tomorrow night.

Dern remains tied with Yan Xiaonan for the #4 ranking at strawweight. Rodriguez looks to earn top-five recognition with a win this weekend to advance her claim toward UFC gold. Rodriguez’s only loss in the UFC came to Carla Esparza in a razor-close split-decision loss on Fight Island. As her only defeat in the UFC, Rodriguez has proven time after time that her striking is her biggest asset in MMA. With six victories by way of TKO/knockout, Rodriguez is a nightmare to deal with if the fight remains standing.

Mackenzie Dern’s Ride Up The Strawweight Ladder

Dern, a renowned Jui-Jitsu specialist has made her mark in the UFC. Of Dern’s six UFC victories, four have come by submission. Ever since having a child, it appears Dern has a renewed desire to become champion. Since Dern’s loss to Amanda Ribas in 2019, the Brazilian-American has fired off four wins in a row. En route to Dern’s four-fight winning streak, the 28-year-old looked outstanding against her latest opponent Nina Nunes. The submission took under one round to secure, and it marked her second arm-bar victory in the UFC.

In September, Dern revealed that Esparza refused to accept a fight with her. Nevertheless, with Rodriguez as her target, the grappling ace will look to pull off a big win at UFC Vegas 39. The fight holds special significance as Dern is well aware that if she pulls off an emphatic victory, she could be next to challenge for strawweight gold.

In her performance against Virna Jandiroba, not only did Dern demonstrate toughness, but she showed how she responds when she is unable to get the fight to the canvas. Following a dominant third round, clearly Dern has made advancements with her striking and cardio.

UFC 256 results: Mackenzie Dern showcases improved striking to win unanimous decision over Virna Jandiroba - MMA Fighting
Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

During the fight, Dern was unable to get Jandiroba to the ground. She did, however, manage to pepper her opponent with constant knees in the clinch through the course of the fight. Despite injuring her nose, Dern powered through the blood and pushed the pace in the final round. After being awarded the unanimous decision victory, many were impressed to see Dern pick up a win without utilizing her elite Jiu-Jitsu.

With her submission attempt percentage above two per fifteen minutes, if Dern gets the fight grounded, the danger factor explodes. Despite her grappling prowess, her successful takedowns per fifteen minutes indicate that she scores less than one takedown in each three-round fight. On the other hand, Rodriguez is sporting a respectable 62% takedown defense and primarily does all of her handiwork while standing.

Rodriguez has looked incredible inside the Octagon. With signature wins against Amanda Ribas and Michelle Waterson, the Brazilian’s strength of schedule is downright impressive. Even though she took her only professional loss to Esparza back in July of 2020, many actually thought Rodriguez won the fight. After the scorecards were read, it was clear at the very least that Rodriguez inflicted more damage.

Rodriguez is on the cusp of a top-five ranking if she can utilize her boxing and pick Dern apart. Rose Namajunas is set to defend her title against Weili Zhang on Nov. 6 in the famed Madison Square Garden Venue in New York City, NY. Before the Nov. strawweight title fight, all eyes are on these two at UFC Vegas 39. One fighter will emerge as a fresh contender for the winner at UFC 268 going down next month–unless, of course, Carla Esparza has anything to say about that.

Prediction: Marina Rodriguez def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision

Do you think Mackenzie Dern can earn a title shot with a dominant win against Marina Rodriguez?

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez Preview/Prediction at MMA News.

Mackenzie Dern: Beautiful Women Have To Prove Themselves More In MMA

Mackenzie DernMackenzie Dern believes that women in MMA who are looked at as being ‘beautiful’ have to prove themselves more than good-looking men do in MMA. Dern was on MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-speaking podcast when she said, “You always have to prove yourself. You see men, if men are pretty in people’s opinion, men make fun of […]

Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern believes that women in MMA who are looked at as being ‘beautiful’ have to prove themselves more than good-looking men do in MMA.

Dern was on MMA Fighting’s Portuguese-speaking podcast when she said, “You always have to prove yourself. You see men, if men are pretty in people’s opinion, men make fun of them, ‘He’s not that good.’ But women, no, they say, ‘Let’s all watch her fight because she’s beautiful.’ We go through that, you have to prove yourself even more.”(MMAFighting)

Dern most definitely has a point. Many people will just support a woman fighter just for their looks instead of how they fight. In order to keep the fan’s attention, good-looking women fighters have to outperform how they look with their skills inside the Octagon. Especially when you take into consideration that MMA fans are mostly made up of men rather than women. Dern is saying, it is hard for men to really pay attention to the action and the skill set they bring to the table when they are striking, much like Dern is.

Dern has a main event bout upcoming this weekend at UFC Vegas 39. She takes on Marina Rodriguez in a five round bout. Dern looks to extend her winning streak to five fights after this weekend. You can guarantee that she will be looking to finish Rodriguez by submission, as she has finished three of her last four fights. A win against Rodriguez could find Dern next up for a shot at the Women’s strawweight title. With her skillset in jiu-jitsu, Dern is a dangerous matchup for anyone in the division. Her toughness and heart have the makings of a champion.

Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern’s comments about ‘beautiful’ women in MMA?

Dern Admits Idea Of Moving Up To Challenge Shevchenko Is “Attractive”

Mackenzie Dern has admitted the idea of challenging UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is getting more and more “attractive.” Since becoming 125-pound queen in 2018, Shevchenko has developed into one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. In six title defenses, which is a record among active champs in the promotion, “Bullet” has […]

Continue Reading Dern Admits Idea Of Moving Up To Challenge Shevchenko Is “Attractive” at MMA News.

Mackenzie Dern has admitted the idea of challenging UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko is getting more and more “attractive.”

Since becoming 125-pound queen in 2018, Shevchenko has developed into one of the most dominant champions in the UFC. In six title defenses, which is a record among active champs in the promotion, “Bullet” has fought off the challenges of Jessica Eye, Liz Carmouche, Katlyn Chookagian, Jennifer Maia, Jéssica Andrade, and Lauren Murphy.

Shevchenko’s most recent retention came at UFC 266 last month. Against Murphy, the Kyrgyzstani star put her incredible ability to hit and not be hit on full display. After controlling a fairly lacklustre three rounds, largely due to little resistance from “Lucky,” Shevchenko turned the heat up in the fourth round. With a flurry of punches and elbows, the champ gave the T-Mobile Arena crowd the brutal finish they were looking for.

With the remaining competition in the current flyweight division wearing thin, Shevchenko may have to look elsewhere for her future challenges. While many have suggested it’s time for a trilogy fight with featherweight and bantamweight queen Amanda Nunes, one strawweight contender has revealed her desire to bring a new threat to “Bullet.”

Speaking to reporters at UFC Vegas 39 media day ahead of her upcoming fight, Mackenzie Dern suggested she could look to find championship success at both 115 and 125 pounds.

“I’ve fought at 125 before, but it was kind of not a very strong Mackenzie. It was kind of like a little bit lazy Mackenzie, like not so professional. So definitely just watching Valentina, she’s (been champion for a long time). The girls are trying, were trying, but I’m like, ‘Man, we need someone to fight her.’ Maybe a jiu-jitsu girl is someone to beat her. Who knows? But definitely, I can see myself getting to 125 but as a fit Mackenzie. So that idea is getting more and more attractive to me to go and try and just make history.”

Dern previously fought at flyweight under the promotional banner of LFA. In 2017, she defeated Mandy Polk by way of a rear-naked choke in her 125-pound debut.

While Shevchenko looks for her next challenger, Dern will be preparing for her first UFC main event. The Arizona-born Brazilian will enter the Octagon with Marina Rodriguez in this weekend’s UFC Vegas 39 headliner.

Since returning from maternity leave with her one and only defeat in MMA against Amanda Ribas, Dern has been on an incredible run of form. Her active four-fight win streak, which includes wins over Randa Markos, Virna Jandiroba, and Nina Nunes, has seen her collect three Performance of the Night bonuses and three first-round submissions.

Should she be victorious over Rodriguez, the skilled jiu-jitsu practitioner will certainly move into contention for a title shot in the near future.

How do you think Mackenzie Dern would fare against UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion Valentina Shevchenko?

Continue Reading Dern Admits Idea Of Moving Up To Challenge Shevchenko Is “Attractive” at MMA News.

Mackenzie Dern Says Pregnancy In “Man-Based Sport” Put Sponsors Off

UFC women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern has opened up on the sponsors she lost during her pregnancy and hiatus from MMA in 2019. After going 7-0 in the sport, a record which included two UFC victories over Ashley Yoder and Amanda Cooper, Dern announced in February 2019 that she would be taking maternity leave from the […]

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern Says Pregnancy In “Man-Based Sport” Put Sponsors Off at MMA News.

UFC women’s strawweight Mackenzie Dern has opened up on the sponsors she lost during her pregnancy and hiatus from MMA in 2019.

After going 7-0 in the sport, a record which included two UFC victories over Ashley Yoder and Amanda Cooper, Dern announced in February 2019 that she would be taking maternity leave from the promotion ahead of the birth of her daughter.

In her first fight back, the Brazilian-American saw the only blemish to date added to her record by Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night 161. Since then, the 28-year-old has looked unstoppable. Consecutive first-round armbar submissions against Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos brought her back into contention, before wins against top contenders Virna Jandiroba and Nina Nunes saw her enter the 155-pound top-five.

While she’s returned to the Octagon since her pregnancy with as much motivation and commitment as before, Dern has admitted that many didn’t expect her to achieve success after becoming a mom. In an interview with MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin, the former world No.1-ranked IBJJF competitor discussed why she’d lost sponsors during her 2019 hiatus.

“So, in sponsors, hey, it’s business you know, it’s money, I understand. (I’m) not gonna be in the media, not gonna be those things. But now I think they are probably like, ‘Oh, maybe we shouldn’t have done that.’”

Dern added that the masculine nature of the sport likely had a part to play in the attitude towards her pregnancy. But while many doubted the future of her MMA career, the Arizona-born Brazilian said she was, and still is, determined to prove everyone wrong.

“I mean, I understand that we’re a more man-based sport. Of course that’s kinda like my role is just trying to inspire women to kind of identify more themselves with my story. Like, hey, moms can fight—or even if they’re not moms but women. Maybe sometimes they get scared like, ‘Oh, I’m gonna fight and maybe not be too feminine anymore. But we can still say the same. So I know that we have (a) more male base. And of course, if you can see a hot girl fighting and also she’s pregnant—I already was having problems with making weight before, so everyone’s just kinda like, I guess they just left and, ‘OK, she’s never gonna come back to fighting, nothing.’ And it was good. For me it was like, ‘OK, I need to prove everyone wrong.’”

As her charge to the title continues, Dern will look to get past fellow contender Marina Rodriguez in this weekend’s UFC Vegas 39 main event. While the 28-year-old will ride a four-fight win streak into Saturday’s headliner, the 34-year-old will look to carry the momentum from consecutive triumphs over Amanda Ribas and Michelle Waterson into her clash with Dern.

Who do you think will have their hand raised in the UFC Vegas 39 main event, Mackenzie Dern or Marina Rodriguez?

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern Says Pregnancy In “Man-Based Sport” Put Sponsors Off at MMA News.

Mackenzie Dern Says Fight Offer Was Turned Down By Carla Esparza

Arizona native and grappling ace Mackenzie Dern claims the former inaugural strawweight champion turned her down before the Marina Rodriguez fight materialized. Slated for Oct. 9, two surging strawweights will vie for supremacy that advances them one s…

Arizona native and grappling ace Mackenzie Dern claims the former inaugural strawweight champion turned her down before the Marina Rodriguez fight materialized. Slated for Oct. 9, two surging strawweights will vie for supremacy that advances them one step closer to a championship opportunity. This bout is important for the division, and hurdles have been erected […]

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern Says Fight Offer Was Turned Down By Carla Esparza at MMA News.

EXCLUSIVE | Mackenzie Dern Expects Submission Win Against Marina Rodriguez

Mackenzie DernMackenzie Dern headlines her first UFC event against Marina Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night Oct. 9. Dern, who is the #4 ranked women’s strawweight sat down to talk about her upcoming match against Rodriguez here at LowKick MMA. Dern was offered Rodriguez in Dec. but fell through. “In December of last year, when they offered […]

Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern headlines her first UFC event against Marina Rodriguez at UFC Fight Night Oct. 9.

Dern, who is the #4 ranked women’s strawweight sat down to talk about her upcoming match against Rodriguez here at LowKick MMA.

Dern was offered Rodriguez in Dec. but fell through. “In December of last year, when they offered the name it didn’t happen. I ended up fighting different people, but I knew, OK if they mention her now she’ll come back sooner or later.” Dern said.

“I saw her fight with Amanda Ribas, who I have my loss to. With Michelle Waterson and noticed her. I started following Marina on Instagram. Actually before I fought Marina, I followed Virna (Jandiroba) when she finished Felice Herrig (in Jiu-Jitsu) and then she was my next fight. Then I follow Marina and she was my next fight. I swear I’m not doing this on purpose.”

In terms of the stylistic matchup against Rodriguez ,Dern had this to say, “I think I match up good and I think we saw in the Amanda Ribas fight that I definitely can’t get too comfortable with her. She’s experienced and has more fights than me. Her length is really good. From seeing her fights in the UFC… It’s not a secret her weakness is the ground. I definitely think the way to win is to take her to the ground.”

Dern acknowledged the same way she has been studying the way Rodriguez fights, Rodriguez has been doing the same with Dern. she also explained how she recognizes Rodriguez has been spending months most likely working on her ground game. Dern pointed out that her weakness as being “too emotional” and likes to go for the finish.

Dern also had her own predictions for the upcoming fight as well. “I definitely don’t think it will go 5 rounds, although I am excited to show I can go 5 rounds. I think it’s going to be a submission and I think I’ll be able to get her on the ground and submit. I don’t think it will be easy , she has good distance and a lot of experience. I think there will be (I don’t know) maybe a couple of bloody noses and swelling of the eyes, but I think we’ll get it to the ground for a submission.”

It’s obvious that Dern has a rather extensive game plan coming into the fight against Rodriguez. Dern is on a 4 fight win streak while finishing 3 via submission. It’s apparent that the BJJ black belt is looking to finish heavy-hitting Rodriguez.

Do you think Mackenzie Dern will finish Marina Rodriguez via submission in their fight?