In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Mackenzie Dern reflected on her recent victory against Amanda Ribas. The UFC strawweight demonstrated her evolution by submitting Ribas via armbar in their rematch of their 2019 bout, showcasing significant improvements in her striking and wrestling skills.
A touching highlight of hercelebration was the presence of her daughter, Moa, whom Dern described as an emotionally sensitive child who experienced both nervousness and excitement during. Reflecting on her career choices, Dern candidly admitted that her return to MMA just four months after giving birth might have been premature, acknowledging how this decision potentially altered both her and Ribas’ career trajectories.
Dern has also incorporated a unique element into her preparation: a large service dog named Mac, who accompanies her to media events and travels, serving as both a guard dog and emotional support, helping her maintain calmness during fight preparations.
Interest in UFC’s Potential Jiu-Jitsu Contracts
The UFC’s recent initiative to sign Jiu-Jitsu athletes like Mikey Musumeci has captured Dern’s attention. She expressed interest in integrating Jiu-Jitsu contracts with her existing UFC agreement, seeing it as an opportunity to maintain her grappling skills while focusing on MMA.
“I would definitely want to get part of that kind of have that mixed in with my regular UFC contract and keep my Jiu-Jitsu up to par for my MMA fights,” Dern stated.
Her ultimate goal remains supporting and promoting Jiu-Jitsu, particularly for women, explaining,
“The whole reason why I went to MMA and UFC was to represent Jiu-Jitsu and get as many women as possible to get involved and to try it and to at least like to watch it and enjoy it.”
Return to Craig Jones Invitational
Dern has also expressed enthusiasm about potentially returning to the Craig Jones Invitational (CJI), particularly if she could dedicate a full training camp to the competition.
She praised Craig Jones‘ contribution to the sport, noting, “I like what Craig is doing for the entertainment and kind of just reaching different spectators.”
With seven performance bonuses and four submissions in the UFC strawweight division, Dern continues to prove her critics wrong while serving as a pivotal figure bridging the worlds of MMA and Jiu-Jitsu.
Her ability to excel in both disciplines makes her a unique athlete in the combat sports landscape, particularly as the UFC explores new opportunities in the Jiu-Jitsu world.
— clips (@MMAclips4u) January 12, 2025
