BJJ standout and UFC strawweight Mackenzie Dern is set to return to the octagon on May 23. At an event yet to be announced, she’ll be facing the soft-spoken but gritty Hannah Cifers.
MMA Fighting was first to report the news.
Dern (7-1) last fought in October at UFC Tampa, losing for the first time in her professional MMA career. She wound up on the wrong side of a unanimous decision opposite Amanda Ribas.
The fight was Dern’s first following the birth of her daughter last June. Dern had been expected to face Ariane Carnelossi at UFC Lincoln this month. However, the coronavirus pandemic scrapped that card.
Cifers (10-4) will also look to get back in the win column on May 23. After putting together wins against Polyana Vianna and Jodie Esquibel, Cifers was finished by former Invicta FC champ Angela Hill back in January. Overall, Cifers is 2-2 as a UFC fighter, with her other loss coming to top prospect Maycee Barber.
No event name or location is set for the UFC’s May 23 card, which was not announced when the promotion unveiled a trio of events set in Jacksonville, Florida starting on May 9. While there has been plenty of talk about Dana White’s “Fight Island” concept, and holding cards at the UFC Apex, the timing of this show could see it once again taking place at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
The UFC’s previously announced events at the venue take place on May 9, 13, and 16.
