“I would have asked to be pulled out”- Mackenzie Dern says the pressure of headlining the main event forced her to fight with an injured knee


“I would have asked to be pulled out”- Mackenzie Dern says the pressure of headlining the main event forced her to fight with an injured knee

Mackenzie Dern

Although she had her limelight when the fight went to the ground, Mackenzie Dern failed to get the job done against Marina Rodriguez at the main event of UFC Vegas 39 on October 9, 2021. Dern was very confident about beating Rodriguez, but the seasoned veteran proved out to be a much tougher challenge than she expected.

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Dern was on a four-fight win streak, and she is looking to get back in the win column with a fight against Tecia Torres scheduled for UFC 273. Tecia is a tough opponent, but Dern is confident in her abilities to take her down and get the job done. According to her, she’s is much healthier compared to her last fight, and she also talked about a devastating knee injury that she sustained days before her main event bout.

Related – “This fight is the biggest learning experience for me,” Mackenzie Dern reflects on her loss at the main event of UFC Vegas 39

Dern was putting in the work for her first UFC main event, but in an unfortunate event she busted up her knee, and it definitely affected her performance against Marina. Dern thought about pulling out from the bout, but the pressure of headlining the main event forced her to continue.

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“I’m seeing that’s OK to do that”– Mackenzie Dern understands it’s OK to put her health before everything

Mackenzie Dern
Mackenzie Dern

Dern claimed had it been a three rounded event, she would’ve pulled out for sure, she said, “For sure, if it was just a three-round fight on the prelims, or even if it was on the main card but not a potential title contender fight, afor sure I would have asked to be pulled out or… if they would reschedule it or something like that.”

“It’s never me to pull out, but more I’m seeing that’s OK to do that. You need to think more about yourself, not just putting on a show. I’m asking for a fight, and finally the UFC gives me a fight, and then I feel pressure that I need to pull through in the fight. I remember thinking, this is my first main event, I don’t want to pull out,” Dern said. “Maybe they’ll just reschedule it or maybe not? Maybe they’ll give Marina a different person and then I’ll lose the opportunity. I could win. I still felt like I could win no matter what.”

Also read – Mackenzie Dern is all set to face Tecia Torres at UFC 273

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