Canada’s Randa Markos will go up against feared BJJ ace Mackenzie Dern this September.
First reported by MMA Fighting, the pair are set to throw down on September 19 (note: this was originally reported as September 12). The UFC event on that date has not been officially announced, and does not have a name or official numbering. However, it is expected to be held in Las Vegas, barring any coronavirus-related restrictions. It’s likely to serve as PPV UFC 253.
Dern (8-1) returned to action in May at UFC on ESPN 9, earning a Performance of the Night bonus with a kneebar submission of Hannah Cifers. In the process, Dern became the first female UFC fighter to win a bout by any form of leg lock.
The Black House MMA fighter’s jiu-jitsu credentials are legendary. She has won gold at the black belt level at every major BJJ tournament on the planet, including the World Championship, European Championship, Brazilian Nationals, and Pan-American Championship. She has also won gold at the Abu Dhabi world cup, and the ADCC World Championship.
Which means Canadian Markos (10-8-1), originally from Iraq, will need to watch her limbs when the pair meet. Markos has been trading wins and losses (with a draw thrown in for good measure) her entire UFC career. That dates all the way back to The Ultimate Fighter 20 in 2014, which introduced the women’s strawweight division to the promotion.
Most recently, she suffered a unanimous decision loss to Amanda Ribas at UFC Brasilia in March.
