Rising UFC strawweight Mackenzie Dern wants to be on a title track, and knows that an early finish this weekend is a step in the right direction. Dern, a multiple-time BJJ world champion, is set to face Yan Xiaonan this weekend in the main event for UFC Vegas 61. She told Just Scrap Radio that she expected this fight to be her next one, and although she won’t underestimate her opponent, she expects to submit Xioanan within a round.
“I mean, I thought it was the one that made the most sense, we both lost to Marina. I felt like it was the fight that made the most sense. She’s number six, I’m number five, and is coming off two losses.
Mackenzie Dern Promises Submission Finish Vs Yao Xiaonan
I was happy to get a high-ranked fighter and to me, this is the fight that made the most sense to me. I know for sure since she is coming off two losses she is working hard, working on her takedowns defense and her ground game. She has a high volume and her striking is on point. It definitely won’t be an easy fight, and I’m excited it’s the main event so we have five rounds. But, the goal is to get the fight over in the first round.”
Xiaonan has had difficulty facing elite grapplers, notably failing to do anything about current strawweight champion Carla Esparza’s ground game. Esparza was able to take Xiaonan down at will and dominate her on the ground. Dern will look to repeat that feat.
“I feel like that is where I will have the most difficulty, is with her standup and I don’t have good takedowns like Carla. I know it won’t be easy to take her down, but I have been working a lot on my wrestling in this camp. If I can get it to the ground, even if I have to pull guard, I think I can get this fight to the ground, but the hard part is getting there and closing the distance.
I think I will get the submission, and the goal is to get it as soon as possible. But, I can see it being in the third, fourth, or fifth round. I see a submission in this fight.”
After Xiaonan, Mackenzie Dern wants another fight, but she sees UFC gold in her near future. “I’m not in a rush to fight for the belt, we will see, I don’t know what happens with Rose. Maybe I fight the loser of Carla and Zhang Weili, we will see. But, I would like to do another fight before I fight for the belt.”
Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern’s prediction? Let us know in the comments.
