It sounds like former Jiu-jitsu world champion Mackenzie Dern is pretty satisfied with the way her fight went down at UFC Vegas 23. Although she picked up another submission victory, this time against former top contender Nina Nunes, the Brazilian was especially excited about her performance on the feet.
In an interview with Ag Fight, Mackenzie emphasized just how happy she was about her evolution as a striker, calling the fight nearly perfect. Even though Dern knows there are still further adjustments to be made in standup, the submission specialist feels ready to take on any of the division’s top contenders.
“It was a practically perfect fight. There was just one thing. I felt like I landed my punches, but sometimes I felt like I was kind of rotating. In the clinch, for example. I wanted to land some elbows. I want to be aggressive on the fence, like I was in the beginning of my career.”
“I’m ready to trade strikes on the feet.” Dern continued. “I have the power and the technique to knock someone out. Not all strawweights have knockout power. But my striking is more about getting them concerned about it before I take them down. It’s to open up some room.”
The win over Nina Nunes put Mackenzie Dern (11-1) on a four-fight winning streak, three of which came by way of submission. That streak includes victories over the aforementioned Nunes, Virna Jandiroba, Randa Markos, and Hannah Cifers. Her last, and only, defeat came back in October 2019, when she dropped a unanimous decision to Amanda Ribas.
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