Ahead of her return, UFC strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern knows a more controlled approach is needed if she’s to reach her goals in MMA.
She is among the prominent names set to be in action at this weekend’s UFC Fight Night event in Abu Dhabi. A number of key matchups will play out before the bantamweight headliner between Cory Sandhagen and Umar Nurmagomedov, including Dern’s 115-pound scrap with Loopy Godinez.
For the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist, the contest marks her first since a decision defeat to former title challenger Amanda Lemos at UFC 298 this past February. That short-notice assignment saw her fall to a second straight setback, having previously been stopped for the first time by Jéssica Andrade.
As for much of her career, the current winless run has left Dern as the subject of criticism for her lack of striking development and habit of ill-advised brawling.
While that’s left many dismissing her title ambitions on MMA’s biggest stage, Dern is confident that championship glory in multiple weight classes still lies in her future, providing she can rein in emotion inside the Octagon…
Dern On UFC Title Chances: ‘If I’m More Rational…’
During a recent fight week interview with MMA Junkie’s Mike Bohn, Dern reflected on the two defeats she’s suffered to fellow Brazilians since a career-best display opposite Angela Hill in an Apex main event last year.
The #7-ranked contender acknowledged the areas she must improve in starting this weekend, and she believes that success in that field could pave the way for glory in more than just the strawweight division.
“From my last fight, the biggest thing I’ve been trying to work on is just like, control the emotions. We kind of feel like that’s the biggest detail, what my losses are coming from,” Dern said. “Not necessarily, ‘Oh, the technique isn’t there, missing the wrestling, missing the striking.’ Just that fact like, when you take a punch or something, sometimes I stay in a brawl and make the fight harder than what it needs to be.
“I want to have a long career. I want to be a champion. I would like to be like, a two-weight class champion,” Dern continued. “Brawlers don’t really have that. They take the damage. … It’s just unnecessary. I always have that card in my back pocket if I need to brawl. I can go out there and brawl. We all know I have that heart in there. I want to have a long career and try to see everything. And I think if I’m more rational and reasonable, I can have everything it takes to be a champion.”
First things first, Dern must show development and defend her spot on the ladder against Godinez in the Middle East on Saturday.
