\n“I\u2019m always confident in my jiu-jitsu, especially since it was Kenia Rosas\u2019 pro debut, and it was my first fight, so I was definitely confident in my jiu-jitsu,” Dern told Ariel Helwani on a recent edition of The MMA Hour. “I hoping to get a submission, but, man, she was so flexible and very tough.<\/p>\n“I wasn\u2019t upset about it. I felt I was really good in the whole fight. It was good to see the cardio different between jiu-jitsu and MMA, to go all three rounds, and being attacking all three rounds and not feel tired, and see everything\u2019s going good. And jiu-jitsu you don\u2019t really hurt people. It was kind of good for me to see \u2018okay, I can throw elbows, I can throw this.\u2019 It was good for me to feel that. I like it.”<\/em><\/p>\n
Mackenzie is hopeful that she will be able to sign with the UFC and earn the women’s strawweight title before the end of 2017.<\/p>\n
“I learn fast. I think that as long as I keep evolving, that\u2019s the plan,” Dern said. “I\u2019m not gonna give up on what I have planned. I think I\u2019m doing good, just to get used to it and keep being confident and trust. There\u2019s so much stuff that my coaches taught me. But I think for my first fight was able to have that come out. I\u2019m excited to start testing more my stand-up but, of course, I\u2019m never gonna take away my jiu-jitsu. I\u2019ll always go to jiu-jitsu, but I\u2019m still confident with that goal. I think that maybe by the end of 2017 I can try for a title. We\u2019ll see. Who knows? You never know. But that\u2019s the goal.”<\/em><\/p>\n\n