In the highly anticipated UFC Abu Dhabi matchup, rising star Loopy Godinez is set to face off against the formidable Mackenzie Dern in Abu Dhabi on August 3rd. Godinez, fresh off an impressive win streak, is brimming with confidence heading into this pivotal clash.
“I really think she’s going to be desperate to take me down or somehow drag me down to playing her game,” Godinez said in a recent interview with Middle easy. The Mexican believes Dern, known for her world-class Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, will be determined to negate Godinez’s striking prowess and test her on the ground.
Godinez, who has never been finished in his professional career, seems unfazed by the challenge. “I’ll be ready for that, and the striking, I don’t think she’ll want to hang with me up top,” he asserted. With a diverse arsenal of attacks and a strong wrestling background, Godinez is confident he can nullify Dern’s ground game.
The move to Las Vegas for this training camp has been a smooth transition for Godinez, who credits his team for helping him prepare for the biggest fight of his career. “Francisco Grasso, Colin D, and Omar, they’ve all been instrumental in getting me ready,” he said. The addition of former UFC champion Alexa Grasso to his training camp has also been a valuable asset.
As Godinez sets his sights on the Middle East, he remains focused on the task at hand, rather than looking too far ahead. “I’m not trying to put too much on my plate,” he said. “I know a win over Mackenzie would be huge for my career, but right now, it’s all about this fight.”
Former ADCC champion Mackenzie Dern will face current ADCC champion Ffion Davies in a superfight at the inaugural Craig Jones Invitational (CJI) this August. Both competitors have withdrawn from the 2024 ADCC World Championships to prepare for this significant match, with Davies switching to CJI after being widely recognized as the sport’s top pound-for-pound competitor. Dern, a former IBJJF gi and no-gi world champion, has focused on her MMA career since her last submission grappling competition in 2017 and is currently ranked #8 in the UFC’s strawweight division despite a recent losing streak. Meanwhile, Davies remains dominant in submission grappling, boasting a 15-match winning streak with recent victories at the 2023 IBJJF Worlds and No-Gi Worlds. The CJI event will take place on August 16-17 in Las Vegas and will be streamed live on YouTube.
