Mackenzie Dern has set her eyes on winning the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), but she feels that she needs a little more experience before she would be given the opportunity to compete for the title.
The UFC strawweight contender will make her return to the cage this coming Saturday to compete against Yan Xiaonan in the main event of UFC Fight Night 211.
Beijing, China Is the Location of The Battle
The fight will take place in Beijing, China. This is a big fight for the division, and the conclusion may have huge consequences for what comes after it.
People have the opinion that if Dern (12-2 MMA, 7-2 UFC), who is one of the more well-known names in the weight class, wins his fight against Xiaonan, he may be on the edge of earning a chance to compete for the title.
Xiaonan is a Chinese mixed martial artist (15-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC). However, the fighter, who is now 29 years old, has conclude that he does not want to battle for the gold in the UFC, at least not right now.
Dern told reporters on Wednesday at the media day for UFC Fight Night 211, “I feel if I have a dominant performance, (a former champion) would be a next amazing step for me.”
He was referring to the possibility of fighting someone who has previously held the title of champion.
In This Case, The Event Took Place In Las Vegas
Las Vegas was the location where the event was held. “I don’t want to fight exactly for the championship, I mean, I’m not going to be the one who says, ‘No. No.’
but at the same time, I’m not going to declare that I won’t fight at all.” I’m not exactly interested in fighting for the title here.
I have no interest in competing with others for the throne. In the event that they offer it to us, there is a possibility that we will take it.
But if it were up to me, I would accept one more fight against a former champion, such as Rose Namajunas, Jessica Andrade, or maybe even whomever comes out on the losing end of Zhang Weili and Carla Esparza.
If it were up to me, I would take that fight. Providing I had the choice, of course. “I believe that would be a really beneficial test for me to take.
And if I am successful against a former champion, I will eventually be allowed to take on the one who has the title at the moment.
Dern is coming off of a win against Tecia Torres that took place back in April at UFC 273. The fight was won by a split decision, and it was Dern who emerged victorious.
Prior to that, she participated in the main event of a Fight of the Night event back in October of the previous year, but she ended up losing to a strong contender named Marina Rodriguez.
Dern Thinks Xiaonan Will Test Her MMA Development
Dern believes that Xiaonan is the right opponent to put her Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) progress to the test since she has a record of 5-1 in her previous six fights, and she believes that Xiaonan is the appropriate opponent.
According to Dern, “she has a big volume, amazing technique, strong punches, and she hits in the appropriate spots; yet, as a grappler, that is advantageous because it makes it a little easier to take them down.”
“I’m in a really great situation in my career to fight someone like him, (someone) who is going to attempt to put on the pressure on me, because I’m finally beginning to settle in on my striking. “
“I’m finally beginning to settle in on my striking.”
