Mackenzie Dern is a veteran of sport bjj at age 24. She’s done so much for the female bjj scene it’s no wonder that it’s hard to be faced with a decision that she has to make a definitive choice – it’s either bjj or mma.
Whatever Happened To Female BJJ & Why It’s Not Ok To Pile On Mackenzie Dern
After some less than flattering reports last month she’s decided to speak up on the subject and clear up her difficulties for the public. Dern told flocombat:
“One thing we think might be a problem is this weight roller coaster,” Dern said. “It goes down to 116 pounds to fight MMA [at strawweight] and then it goes up. I have to gain weight — for jiu-jitsu it’s up to 130 pounds. Then I have to go down to strawweight again for MMA. Every month I’m in a weight-loss process, I’m feeling like I’m really (expletive) up my body with that and all the training. We’re thinking that I’ll make a decision soon.”
“In jiu-jitsu, you cut weight differently,” Dern said. “I’m cutting in two different ways […] and my body wasn’t used to it […]. Everyone knows that, but I still want to defend my title in the ADCC every two years. I don’t know what to do.”
And as far as going up a weight class goes, Dern replies:
“We talked and we thought about it,” Dern said. “But because of my frame, strawweight would be my division. Who knows, I could go up one day if things go well, but strawweight [currently] is best for me.”
Dern added:
In the beginning, I thought that to fight MMA, I needed to have my jiu-jitsu at my best, and there’s no way I could be better than preparing to face the best. But I feel like [doing both grappling and MMA competitively] disrupts my jiu-jitsu, too.”
