Mackenzie Dern is open to a future UFC strawweight title shot but prefers to take her time to ensure she’s fully prepared, aiming to be a dominant champion rather than rushing into it.
Mackenzie Dern isn’t eager for a title shot unless she’s truly ready. After her impressive win at UFC Vegas 101, where she submitted Amanda Ribas with an armbar in the third round, there’s been some buzz. This victory not only avenged her 2019 loss to Ribas but also marked the first time since 2021 that she’s strung together consecutive wins, maintaining her No. 8 spot in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings.
The strawweight title is set for defense at UFC 312 on February 8, with Zhang Weili facing undefeated Tatiana Suarez. The winner might soon need a fresh challenger. While Dern is open to the opportunity, she’s in no rush. She wants to ensure she’s not just ready to win the belt but also to hold onto it.
“I’m very hard on myself,” Dern admitted at the post-fight press conference. “Even after a great performance, I find things I did wrong.” This self-criticism, though challenging, helps her strive to be the best fighter possible.
Her goal? Not just to grab the belt and lose it quickly. She aims to be a dominant champion, taking her time to make a statement with each fight.
The UFC often has backup fighters ready for title bouts, especially considering Suarez’s injury history. Virna Jandiroba was initially slated to fight Suarez last December but withdrew, potentially leaving room for Dern or Jandiroba as backups for Zhang vs. Suarez.
“They’ve called me on short notice before,” Dern said, referencing a previous title opportunity with Amanda Lemos. But whether she’d accept such an offer now depends on her readiness and team discussions.
Dern faces a dilemma: many fighters ranked above her have already fought her and may not be keen on rematches. Her focus remains on extending her win streak; if that means facing Jandiroba again, she’d consider it.
“No specific opponent,” Dern mentioned when asked about future fights. “I’m preparing for ‘Dern 2’ rematches.” Perhaps Virna again? With Tatiana aiming for the belt, maybe that’s something she’d want too. But nothing’s set in stone yet.