Mackenzie Dern Open To Title Shot vs. Valentina Shevchenko: “Maybe A Jiu-Jitsu Girl Is The One To Beat Her”

UFC women’s strawweight contender, Mackenzie Dern, is open to a potential title shot against current UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Dern spoke with reporters during the media day ahead of her bout with Marina Rodriguez in the main event of this Saturday night’s UFC Vegas 39 card and talked about wanting to stay active after hopefully securing the win over Rodriguez. With current UFC women’s strawweight champion, Rose Namajunas, and former champion, Zhang Weili, set for a rematch at UFC 268 on November 6, Dern says she doesn’t want to wait too long to face the winner. 

“I don’t know whoever will win, Rose or Zhang Weili, when is the next time they will want to fight,” Dern said (h/t MMA Junkie). “Maybe they just want to fight in June of next year. Hopefully, they don’t get beat up too much, you know? But who knows if they want to fight like in March. My momentum is so good right now. I’ve been in almost a little bit over a year, five fights, so that’s what’s good for me is just to keep that momentum going. I don’t want to take too much time off.”

She continued on to say the following about her aspirations to one day become a two-division UFC champion, and her thoughts on fighting Shevchenko for the promotion’s women’s 125-pound title at some point.

“I’m working with Rogerio Camoes – he’s making me stronger, just feeling good,” Dern said. “I fought at 125 before, but it was not a very strong Mackenzie. I was kind of like a little bit lazy Mackenzie, like not so professional. Definitely just watching Valentina, you know, she’s a long time at the belt. The girls are trying, we’re trying, but I’m like, we need someone to fight her. Maybe a jiu-jitsu girl is the one to beat her. Who knows, you know? But definitely, I can see myself getting to 125, but as a fit Mackenzie, you know? That idea is getting more and more attractive to me, to go in and try and just make history.”

All smiles before @MackenzieDern‘s first UFC main event —

[ #UFCVegas39 Saturday Prelims 1:30——– Main Card 4——– Live on @ESPNPlus ] pic.twitter.com/cZCtbyWonX

— UFC (@ufc) October 7, 2021

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