Mackenzie Dern looked to make the first defense of her women’s strawweight title on Saturday, taking on Canadian challenger Gillian Robertson in the co-main event of UFC 330.
Dern locked up a neck early, but Robertson worked to the fence, got in control and broke free, though she could not land the takedown she had been looking for. Back at center, the challenger dove for a leg, but was too far out, and Dern easily pulled free, firing a few punches after the fact. Dern mixed in low kicks when they met at center, and showed improved striking; gone were the looping hooks and sloppy, lunging strikes from earlier in her career. Robertson, meanwhile, worked in a few kicks, but her striking was limited to closing distance.
It was Dern, however, he changed levels and landed a big double-leg takedown with just over two minutes on the clock. Robertson seemed to contemplate working off her back; soon Dern was in half-guard. Dern stayed heavy on the challenger, who had clamped down on a leg to prevent her from passing. Dern, however, looked for a kimura, and used elbows to try and get Robertson to open her guard. She did, momentarily, but regained half-guard. Moments later, after a bit of a scramble, Dern took the back, getting on hook in with Robertson on her knees. Under 30 seconds remained in the round, but Dern was able to lock up a tight rear-naked choke! It looked back, but Robertson gave the thumbs up, and made it to the horn.
Between rounds, coach Din Thomas told his fighter that “I need you to wake the f*ck up,” and implored her repeatedly to move her feet. That wouldn’t matter, as Dern landed another big takedown 30 seconds into round two. Dern was in control, and soon worked her way to the back, once again getting hooks in. Robertson fought the hands, but was unable to stop Dern from wrapping up a choke. What Robertson was able to do was transition to top while in the choke, breaking it and finally getting in a dominant position.
Dern grabbed a leg, while Robertson landed a hammer fist, and elbowed then punched Dern’s thigh. Dern rolled, arm looped under a leg, taking away Robertson’s advantage. Robertson continued to land hammer fists, but they weren’t doing any real damage. Dern was winning positions, and was back in control. Dern then sat herself on Robertson’s midsection, continuing to work at isolating a leg. Dern would finish the round on top, and depending on how round one was scored, was up either 20-18, or 20-17.
The pair traded punches to open round three, where Dern’s hands were much crisper. Sharper, more accurate, and heavier. Robertson did stuff the first big takedown attempt of the round; the pair then clinched up along the fence, Dern in control. They’d break, with Robertson firing her jab, and adding a kick. Robertson fired a solid left hand. Dern was firing combinations, but was slowing, and not landing as much. Nor as heavy. Robertson, in comparison, hadn’t really slowed from her earlier pace. Gillian was pressuring, pressing the attack, but wasn’t able to land a ton, and Dern shifted momentum by landing a takedown with a minute to go.
A better round for Robertson, but one that probably still went to the champ. Round four opened with an early takedown attempt by Dern, who landed it. She quickly took the back from half guard, stepping over fluidly. Dern got hooks it, locked on a body triangle, and had all the time in the world to work. Just under four minutes, in reality. Robertson fought hands, but exposed her neck and nearly got caught in a choke while trying to turn in, looking to reverse position. Robertson survived, but Dern landed a punch to the side of the head.
With just over a minute to go, Robertson was able to reverse, getting on top. Dern, however, grabbed an arm, looking for an arm-bar. Robertson would finally manage to land some ground n’ pound at round’s end.
Gillian Robertson needed a finish, without question, in round five. Mackenzie Dern had the win in the bag otherwise. Robertson went after a single-leg, getting Dern down at long last. Robertson, however struggled to control Dern before finally getting inside her guard. Dern would grab a leg to defend, while Robertson dropped a few weak hammer fists. Those got stronger as time ticked down, and Robertson won the round— just not the war.
Official Result: Mackenzie Dern def. Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 48-47)
