Just days out from the biggest fight of her life, strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern is quietly confident that she will be cementing her legacy by claiming UFC gold.
Dern, 32, squares off with Virna Jandiroba in the co-main event of UFC 321, with the vacant championship on the line.
Jandiroba enters the bout on Sunday morning (AEDT) as a considerable betting favourite, riding a five-fight win-streak and being the division’s top-ranked contender.
However, Dern, officially No.5 in the weight class, has a good reason to be radiating confidence, having previously beaten her fancied rival when the pair fought in 2020.
What’s more, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace says she’ll be bringing a much stronger physique into the rematch in Abu Dhabi.
“When I went through my pregnancy [in 2019], I lost so much muscle,” Dern told Fox Sports Australia.
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LAS VEGAS, NV – MARCH 03: Ashley Yoder (L) blocks a kick from Mackenzie Dern during their women’s strawweight bout during UFC 222 at T-Mobile Arena on March 3, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Dern won by split decision. Isaac Brekken/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==Source: AFP
“I fought her, but it was my third fight after my daughter was born, and I was still skinny. I didn’t have an athletic champion’s body.
‘Now, it’s been five years. I’ve been working with my strength trainer… And, yeah, we’ve just been working on muscle [development]. Every single fight, I’m getting better and better, especially for the weight cut.”
Dern may well need the added power, with Jandiroba proving very effective with her wrestling over recent years, rarely being overwhelmed physically by any opponent. In fact, the last time the pair threw down, things got messy in Round 2, with Jandiroba breaking Dern’s nose via a well-timed knee.
Quizzed on whether she was out for revenge for said strike, Dern admitted she wouldn’t mind returning the favour.
“I don’t have anything against her. Like, I don’t want to mess up her career. But I’d definitely like to, you know, put her through some adversity, too,” she said with a smile.
“She broke my nose in the second round, and I had to come back and fight and pull out the win. So I’d like to put her through some similar tough positions and see if she’ll break or not.”
Dern believes her past experience fighting in championship-length bouts in the Octagon will also be a bonus.
“I don’t think she’s ever fought five rounds [in the UFC] before,” says the Phoenix-born star who represents both the US and Brazil.
“I think my cardio improves during the later rounds. You know, I start to get better instead of going down.
“I think I’ve been battle tested a lot, not just against her. I feel like she’s gonna have to do a lot to stop me, because she wasn’t the hardest puncher.”
While both women hold BJJ black belts, Dern boasts a pedigree and competitive record in the art rarely seen inside the Octagon. The daughter of grappling legend Wellington Dias, she began learning jiu-jitsu as a toddler and went on to become a multi-time world champion in the sport.
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Needless to say, she remains confident in her ability if things hit the mat on Fight Night.
“She has good jiu-jitsu for MMA, but it’s not like our competition jiu-jitsu. So, I think in the ground game, I’m ahead.
“And then, with the striking… I mean, I’ve been working on striking so much, and I really just feel like I’m ready. I feel like we’ve trained hard to beat her in all areas.”
Former UFC icon Ronda Rousey was a huge influence on Dern’s transition into MMA, but the pair have so far never crossed paths. With recent speculation Rousey could be making a comeback, Dern says she would be keen to meet her inspiration – but not necessarily in the Octagon.
Mackenzie Dern squares off with Virna Jandiroba in the co-main event of UFC 321Source: Instagram
“Unless she got down [to a lighter weight class],” noted Dern. “But no, I mean I’d just like to meet her and talk. And, you know, she’s a mum now, too. It would just be really nice to sit down and chat, or to train together.
“I can see her – someone who’s been an athlete her whole life – coming back and doing well in the 135lb division. I think she could do really good, and it would be amazing to see her return.”
