“It’s going to be a first-round submission again this time,” Mackenzie Dern predicts first-round submission win against Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 39
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Mackenzie Dern
The number 4th ranked UFC women’s strawweight fighter, Mackenzie Dern is booked to face the number 6th ranked women’s strawweight fighter, Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 39 on 9th October.
Dern is one of the most elite grapplers on the UFC’s women roster and Rodriguez is a classical striker, that’s why this fight is going to be a perfect striker vs grappler contest and Mackenzie Dern is gearing up to expose Marina Rodriguez’s ground game in their fight.
In her latest interview with MMA Junkie, Dern says, “I think her ground game has a lot to work on, I’ve seen her do a couple of elbows from the bottom, but more when the girl is just holding her on the ground.”
“But I’ve seen her get up and giving her back, so I can imagine her camp is going to be a lot of takedown defense and maybe getting up using the cage to get up. I think her striking is so dangerous, but the ground has a lot to work on.”
Rodriguez is coming into this fight with two wins on her back, which includes the TKO win against Amanda Ribas at UFC 257 as well, which earned her performance of the night bonus. Dern believes she is a dangerous fighter when it comes to striking but her lack of ground game resulted in one loss and two draws in her record.
Mackenzie Dern added, “I’ve been looking at all of her fights, So I wouldn’t say particularly Carla Esparza, but even the fights that were draws, like let’s say with Randa Markos, Carla Esparza, Cynthia Calvillo – basically all her fights in the UFC, even her last one Michelle Waterson.”
“Even though she won the fight, I believe only one round that she lost was the one that Michelle Waterson, who’s more of a striker, took her down. So I think the hole in her game is just the takedowns.” {H/T MMA Junkie}
Mackenzie Dern will be ready for all types of striking games as well
The World Jiu-jitsu Championship gold medalist, Mackenzie Dern is improving her striking game as well with Jason Parillo. But she wants to make this fight a quick finish as she did with Nina Ansaroff in her last fight.
Dern says, “I think it’s going to be a first-round submission again this time, I definitely think I’ve found my way in MMA, kind of found what works for me. And hey, why would I want to stay too much getting punched in the face, taking all this damage,”
“Take more time recovering to get back into training when it’s clear that obviously taking it to the ground (works for me)? The girls are still getting better, the level on the ground, but I need to take advantage. That’s my strength, so I think it’s going to be a first-round submission.” {H/T MMA Junkie}
Also Read: “It was a practically perfect fight,” says Mackenzie Dern on her win against Nina Nunes.
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Shivansh Thakur
(1173 Articles Published)