Over the weekend Mackenzie Dern made a triumphant debut in the octagon but with the triumph came also the revelation that Dern is hanging up the gi.
Some time back she was quoted saying:
“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.”
Mackenzie Dern Explains Presence Of Translator In Post Fight Interview
“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.”
Here’s what Dern recently told Ariel Helwani:
“I felt like I was meant to be there (in the octagon). Each fight I’ll be a better fighter – really enforce like this is what I’m meant to do. I made the right decision to stop jiu jitsu now and focus on this so I’m excited for the next challenge. Hopefully I can be fighting in Rio.
“I ended the fight on her back, I thought she was going to tap, the choke was in, she was breathing hard, so I thought it was going to be 2-1 for me,” Dern said, “But when they started to announce the split decision I got a little nervous, but I knew it could be anything in the judges’ eyes. I’m ready for that, but, of course, I don’t want to leave it in the hands of the judges ever again.”
Joey Diaz and Vinny Magalhaes Make Vulgar Comments Toward Mackenzie Dern
