Mackenzie Dern is a rising star and by many accounts the grappler to watch in MMA. The bjj champion is just 23 years old but her youth doesn’t necessarily mean she’s not careful about the expectations everyone has placed on her from the grappling community, her fans or even people closest to her.

“Honestly, I know that sooner or later people who have those expectations are going to be disappointed,” Dern told MMAjunkie. “Because I know that one day I’m not going to have a good performance. Maybe I won’t be able to submit the next fight. Who knows? For me, it’s way more normal. In my head, I’m prepared. I know I only have two MMA fights. I know that I’m new at this. I know that sometimes you can’t submit.

I think it’s going to teach (people who follow my career) to be patient and to see that you have good days and you have bad days. Of course, I don’t want that to happen. I’m training as hard as I can. I’m trying my best to live up to the expectations. I’m trying to be the best I can and to represent everyone. I appreciate their support, but I don’t feel the pressure from anyone.

“I know where I am. I know I’m at the beginning of my career, and so many things can happen.”

In this very interview she revealed the UFC has already approached her!

“The UFC talked to us already, My team and my coaches, we talked with them, and we definitely want to – I want to be there. I’m hoping in 2017 I’ll be there. But I don’t want to get just thrown into the shark tank. I want to go in there being a shark. I don’t want to be the fish for the sharks.

I respect all the girls there, and I know they’re at the highest level. It’s not jiu-jitsu. It’s a different sport. And I know that jiu-jitsu can help me for so long, but I know that sooner or later, I’ll have to be ready to take them down or something like that. So we’re just taking our time. I hope in 2017 I can be in the UFC. We’re just being patient and trying to get better as fast as possible. And while I’m doing that, I’m just enjoying the process.”

Mackenzie Dern also revealed the transition to MMA was more exhausting then she anticipated. She spoke about getting gassed out in her debut fight.

“I did OK, but I gassed out so fast – I got so tired,” Dern said. “I was like, ‘I can do 10 rounds of jiu-jitsu no problem.’ But then I did one round of five minutes in the cage, and I was dying, I was so tired.”

Even though her attention is pointed toward MMA, Dern made an appearance at the Tokyo Grand Slam over last weekend and picked up gold in her division.