Mackenzie Dern returns for the first time in 2021 at UFC Vegas 23, after having one of the best years in the UFC last year — and she believes she is championship level.
“I think I’m really starting to become a champion material,” Dern said at UFC Media day either this week.
After suffering her first professional loss in 2019, Dern rebounded by defeating Hannah Cifers, Randa Markos, and Virna Jandiroba in 2020. She was award Performance of the Night in two of those wins. She even made a bit of history with her kneebar on Cifers, a first for women in the UFC.
On Saturday, Mackenzie Dern faces Nina Nunes, formally known as Nina Ansaroff, ranked No. 5 in the strawweight division. A win over Nunes could set up Dern for a title run by the end of the year.
“It all depends on what happens in the fight, you know, I think this fight will be a determining factor in my career,” Dern said. “So hopefully winning and winning good will set me up for what can come next. There is Rose [Namajuanas], Carla Esparza, Yan Xiaonan, and they are all fighting in the next few weeks, so a lot of things are going to happen in the top five.”
Dern said she would like to have one or two more fights before a title shot. She feels like she is the best strawweight grappler, but you have to have everything to be a champion.
“Jiu Jitsu wise, from the champ all the way to the newbies, I can win, but we want to be champ, and a champ has to be good at everything and prepared for everything. Be able to mix and melt everything together,” Dern said.
Watch the full UFC Vegas 23 media day appearance by Mackenzie Dern above. The event takes place this Saturday, April 10 at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card airs live on ABC, kicking off early at 3PM ET following the prelims.
