Tag: Mackenzie Dern

UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu […]

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UFC Fight Night: Cory Sandhagen vs. Umar Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

After staging its return to Manchester, England, for the UFC 304 pay-per-view last weekend, MMA’s leading promotion has remained on the road for a card inside the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

Before returning to the venue for its annual numbered event this October, the UFC will put on a Fight Night event topped by elite bantamweight contenders Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov. The former interim title challenger and his undefeated Russian opponent will be looking to stake their claims for a shot at the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili.

Saturday’s co-headliner, meanwhile, will see another unbeaten name back in action as Sharabutdin Magomedov looks to make it three from three in the UFC at the expense of Micha? Oleksiejczuk.

Before that, a second crucial contest at 135 pounds will go down. Making the walk for the first time since his defeat to O’Malley in their UFC 299 title fight, Marlon Vera will look to revive his championship ambitions before stalling the two-weight goals of ex-flyweight kingpin Deiveson Figueiredo.

Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of former interim lightweight champion Tony Ferguson and strawweight submission specialist Mackenzie Dern are among those set to be in action.

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov Weigh-In Results

UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov takes place on Saturday, August 3, at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at 3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT.

The weigh-ins took place early Friday morning. See the full results below!

Main Card:

  • Bantamweight Main Event: Cory Sandhagen (136lbs) vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (135lbs)
  • Middleweight Co-Main Event: Sharabutdin Magomedov (186lbs) vs. Micha? Oleksiejczuk (185lbs)
  • Bantamweight: Marlon Vera (136lbs) vs. Deiveson Figueiredo (135.5lbs)
  • Welterweight: Tony Ferguson (170lbs) vs. Michael Chiesa (170lbs)
  • Women’s Strawweight: Mackenzie Dern (115lbs) vs. Loopy Godinez (115.5lbs)
  • Lightweight: Joel Álvarez (155.5lbs) vs. Elves Brener (155lbs)

Preliminary Card:

  • Light Heavyweight: Azamat Murzakanov (205lbs) vs. Alonzo Menifield (204lbs)
  • Lightweight: Mohammad Yahya (155lbs) vs. Kaue Fernandes (155.5lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Shamil Gaziev (262lbs) vs. Don’Tale Mayes (265lbs)
  • Lightweight: Guram Kutateladze (155lbs) vs. Jordan Vucenic (155lbs)
  • Women’s Strawweight: Victoria Dudakova (115.5lbs) vs. Sam Hughes (114lbs)
  • Lightweight: Jai Herbert (155.5lbs) vs. Rolando Berdoya (155lbs)
  • Middleweight: Sedriques Dumas (186lbs) vs. Denis Tiuliulin (185lbs)

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Mackenzie Dern Promises To ‘Clean’ Up Fight Style In Pursuit Of Becoming Two-Division UFC Champion 

Ahead of her return, UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern knows a more controlled approach is needed if she’s to reach her goals in MMA. She is among the prominent names set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi. A number of key matchups will play out before the […]

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern Promises To ‘Clean’ Up Fight Style In Pursuit Of Becoming Two-Division UFC Champion  at MMA News.

Ahead of her return, UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern knows a more controlled approach is needed if she’s to reach her goals in MMA.

She is among the prominent names set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi. A number of key matchups will play out before the bantamweight headliner between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, including Dern’s 115-pound scrap with Loopy Godinez.

For the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, the contest marks her first since a decision defeat to former title challenger Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 this past February. That short-notice assignment saw her fall to a second straight setback, having previously been stopped for the first time by Jéssica Andrade.

As for much of her career, the current winless run has left Dern as the subject of criticism for her lack of striking development and habit of ill-advised brawling.

While that’s left many dismissing her title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, Dern is confident that championship glory in multiple weight classes still lies in her future, providing she can rein in emotion inside the Octagon…

Dern On UFC Title Chances: ‘If I’m More Rational…’

During a recent fight week interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Dern reflected on the two defeats she’s suffered to fellow Brazilians since a career-best display opposite Angela Hill in an Apex main event last year.

The #7-ranked contender acknowledged the areas she must improve in starting this weekend, and she believes that success in that field could pave the way for glory in more than just the strawweight division.

“From my last fight, the biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on is just like, control the emotions. We kind of feel like that’s the biggest detail, what my losses are coming from,” Dern said. “Not necessarily, ‘Oh, the technique isn’t there, missing the wrestling, missing the striking.’ Just that fact like, when you take a punch or something, sometimes I stay in a brawl and make the fight harder than what it needs to be.

“I want to have a long career. I want to be a champion. I would like to be like, a two-weight class champion,” Dern continued. “Brawlers don’t really have that. They take the damage. … It’s just unnecessary. I always have that card in my back pocket if I need to brawl. I can go out there and brawl. We all know I have that heart in there. I want to have a long career and try to see everything. And I think if I’m more rational and reasonable, I can have everything it takes to be a champion.”

First things first, Dern must show development and defend her spot on the ladder against Godinez in the Middle East on Saturday.

Continue Reading Mackenzie Dern Promises To ‘Clean’ Up Fight Style In Pursuit Of Becoming Two-Division UFC Champion  at MMA News.

Amanda Lemos scores decision victory over Mackenzie Dern in epic three-round war – UFC 298 Highlights

Mackenzie DernMackenzie Dern and Amanda Lemos closed out the UFC 298 prelims with a bang on Saturday night. Stepping in…

Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern and Amanda Lemos closed out the UFC 298 prelims with a bang on Saturday night.

Stepping in for a short-notice showdown with the one-time UFC title challenger, Dern showed her heart and determination throughout the three-round affair, never backing down even when she was battered and bloody in the second round.

Dern’s lead leg was compromised in the early going due to a series of vicious calf kicks courtesy of Lemos, but that didn’t stop Dern from marching forward and letting her hands go. However, Lemos nearly scored a finish in the second when Dern came rushing in and caught a counter that immediately busted up the Brazilian-American beauty’s nose.

Still, Dern never let up and narrowly escaped with a victory in the third after controlling a majority of the round with her world-class BJJ.

But despite her best efforts, it was Lemos who would have her hand raised after 15 grueling minutes.

Official Result: Amanda Lemos def. Mackenzie Dern via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Check Out Highlights From Mackenzie Dern vs. Amanda Lemos at UFC 298:

Joe Rogan’s ruthless commentary made UFC 298’s Mackenzie Dern cry: ‘This is so embarrassing’

Mackenzie DernJoe Rogan made Mackenzie Dern cry. On Saturday night, February 17, the strawweight fan favorite will return to the…

Mackenzie Dern

Joe Rogan made Mackenzie Dern cry.

On Saturday night, February 17, the strawweight fan favorite will return to the Octagon at UFC 298 determined to get back into the win column after delivering a lackluster performance in her last outing against former champion Jessica Andrade.

After putting on the performance of a lifetime against Angela Hill six months prior, Dern looked like a complete novice against Andrade, earning criticism from Rogan who was on hand to offer his expertise.

“She’s flailing (arm punches) and her chin is up in the air. Look at her, that’s crazy,” Joe Rogan said moments before Dern suffered her first stoppage loss. “At this level, to have that lack of awareness in those exchanges is crazy.”

“We saw it coming,” Rogan added following the finish. “It’s like she regressed in her striking from her last performance.”

Rogan wasn’t the only one to pour on the criticism while watching the fight from the commentary table. Daniel Cormier added that “she gets a little lost when the exchanges get a little long and wild” while Din Thomas suggested that they need to “fire whoever told her to get rid of Jason Parillo.”

Watching back her second-round knockout loss to Andrade, Dern was heartbroken to hear Rogan and his commentary compatriots lambasting her performance.

“When I heard the commentary like Joe Rogan, D.C., and stuff, that for me, that was — I felt embarrassed — I felt bad,” Dern said on an appearance on Morning Kombat. “I was like, ‘Dang, how did I just fight Angela Hill in May with like the best performance, and now they’re saying I look like a freakin’ high school girl brawling and stuff like that?’

“For me, they’re the kind of critics that can influence a lot of people with what they say commentating. Man, I can’t believe they said that about me. I looked like that?! Then I started remembering, well, the same way they said good stuff about me they’ve said bad. It goes back and forth. It’s their job, they’re going to commentate no matter what. I still love them and everything like that. So, it wasn’t too bad,” she said.

“Just that first moment I watched the fight I was crying, like this is so embarrassing, oh my gosh” (h/t Bloody Elbow).

Mackenzie Dern sees UFC 298 return as a ‘must-win’ situation

Dern will look to erase the memory of her loss to Andrade when she steps inside the cage with one-time UFC title challenger Amanda Lemos in a short-notice showdown. Lemos is coming off a lopsided decision defeat at the hands of reigning strawweight queen Zhang Weili.

As for Dern, the Brazilian-American beauty has alternated wins and losses in her last five outings, besting Tecia Torres and Angela Hill, but coming up short against Marina Rodriguez, Yan Xiaonan, and the aforementioned Jessica Andrade. Dern goes into her UFC 298 clash with ‘Amandinha’ believing it is a must-win situation.

“On a personal level, (this fight) is a must-win,” Dern said.

Video – Bobby Green gets hilariously distracted as Mackenzie Dern weighs in ahead of UFC 298

Bobby Green distracted by Mackenzie DernWe were all thinking it, but Bobby Green was the one who said it. On Saturday night, February 17,…

Bobby Green distracted by Mackenzie Dern

We were all thinking it, but Bobby Green was the one who said it.

On Saturday night, February 17, the UFC returns to the Honda Center in Anaheim, California for UFC 298. In the main event of the evening, featherweight king Alexander Volkanovski will put his belt on the line for the sixth time when he meets undefeated challenger Ilia Topuria.

Fans will also be treated to an electrifying co-main event when one-time title challenger Paulo Costa makes his long-awaited comeback against former middleweight world champion Robert Whittaker.

But first, all 24 fighters had to step on the scale during Friday morning’s official weigh-in ceremony. Joining regulars Dan Hellie, Laura Sanko, and Michael Bisping on the broadcast was top-15 ranked lightweight contender Bobby Green, who found himself a bit distracted when strawweight standout Mackenzie Dern made her way to the scale.

“Sheeeeesh,” Green uttered as Dern stepped onto the stage looking… Fit.

Dern will look to bounce back following a lackluster performance against former ex-champ Jéssica Andrade at UFC 295 in November. The Brazilian-American beauty has alternated wins and losses in her last five outings, earning wins over Tecia Torres and Angela Hill while falling to Marina Rodriguez, Yan Xiaonon, and the aforementioned Andrade.

Standing in Mackenzie Dern’s way of a return to the win column is Amanda Lemos. ‘Amandinha’ will be competing for the first time since coming up short in her first UFC title opportunity against reigning strawweight queen Zhang Weili in August.

Mackenzie Dern Details fallout from her divorce ahead of UFC 295: ‘This whole fight is still paying my ex’

Mackenzie DernMackenzie Dern hopes that someday soon, she can look back and see all of the chaos behind her instead…

Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern hopes that someday soon, she can look back and see all of the chaos behind her instead of constantly surrounding her.

Ahead of her clash with Angela Hill in May, news broke that Dern was in the middle of a tumultuous divorce with her ex-husband that also included a custody battle for their daughter. By the time fight night rolled around, her divorce had been finalized, but as anyone who has gone through the process knows, it rarely ends with the paperwork.

“I realized we always have problems,” Dern said during the UFC 295 media day. “Just the pressure. The last one I went through the divorce. The divorce is final but you don’t realize how much aftermath there is to it. Literally, this whole fight is still paying my ex. It’s crazy, I have to get punched in the face and you work so hard and you do all this and you have to like pay that much of something.

“Money’s something, I’ll fight here, I’ll get it, whatever. Winning or losing, everything’s going to be taken care of. I’ll make more [money] and stuff like that but it’s just problems” (h/t MMA Fighting).

Adding to the chaos ahead of her highly anticipated return to the Octagon on Saturday night was the closing of her gym. To compensate, Dern set up a private training facility in her home and spent some time training with former two-division UFC titleholder Henry Cejudo.

“RVCA closed so I basically made my own home gym,” Dern explained. “You just keep investing in your dream and hope that it works. I’m trying to make everything private at home because you’re just very vulnerable when everyone’s seeing your training. I’m a world champion in jiu-jitsu but people see me in the gym and I’m crying, I’m frustrated because I feel I should be better at something. I feel like I should be able to get it and I don’t get it. It’s not working.

“There’s injuries and there’s a ton of stuff that keeps going on and you’re like I just want to be able to train and get better. I don’t know. In the fight it comes out. It all works out.”

Mackenzie Dern Refuses to use her personal struggles as an excuse

Slowly becoming a master of the chaos, Mackenzie Dern decided to inject a new dynamic into her home.

“I got a new puppy — I think I even invent more problems, more chaos,” Dern said with a laugh. “I thrive on that, the craziness. The puppy and all these things. Getting used to splitting your daughter half of the time with you, half of the time with the dad and all these things. You’re learning so many new dynamics in your routine.

“My whole life when I was training to be a world champion in jiu-jitsu, my best times of being a world champion was when I had a routine and I had a schedule and you’re able to keep focused. I think that’s why it’s hard to be a mom and try to be a world champion, to be the champion in the UFC because you need to be consistent in your training. When you don’t feel you’re consistent in your day-to-day life, one day is this, one day is that, you’re like I just need to train. You just make it work.”

Dern did make it clear that she was by no means creating excuses for herself, recognizing that other fighters deal with these same personal issues all the time. In fact, her UFC 295 opponent, Jessica Andrade, revealed that she was also going through a divorce ahead of Saturday’s showdown.

“It definitely wasn’t easy but I understand that’s what everyone goes through,” Dern said. “Everyone’s having problems. Everyone has injuries, we’re fighters. I think Jessica, she talked about she had a divorce, too. It’s kind of crazy the fans get to watch us let out all of our stress and everything on another person in a fight but that’s what we’re trained for. That’s what makes the victory more special.”

Mackenzie Dern enters her fight with Andrade alternating wins and losses in her last four bouts. Overall she is 8-3 under the UFC banner and on the cusp of a potential strawweight title opportunity. With a big win over ‘Bate Estaca’ in Madison Square Garden, Dern’s next fight could very well be for UFC gold.