M. Dern is on a four-fight winning streak in the UFC. Photo: Reproduction/Instagram
The extensive history of weighing failures left the Brazilian Mackenzie dern afraid of a 'reverse effect' happening in his next UFC fight. Climbing to the UFC 273 next Saturday (09), the strawweight (up to 52,2kg) revealed that she is now worried about being well below the category limit and arriving weakened for the duel against the North American Tecia torres.
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“My problem was, because of everything I went through not making weight, all the criticism and negative comments, I started to be afraid of it happening again. In my last fight, against Marina Rodriguez, I weighed 51,9kg the day before, and 52,6kg on the day of the fight. I should be heavier than that, but I kept thinking: 'I'm not going to eat anything, I have to make weight'. I should have been calmer, not worried, because I would have made it. It was kind of a trauma,” said Mackenzie.
The Tupiniquim athlete revealed that she is taking care of this issue during her training camp and said that she should step up to the octagon in UFC 273 in better physical shape than in his last fights.
“In this camp I'm working on keeping my weight up and under control: 'Don't worry, Mackenzie, you can do it. There's no need to be afraid, you're ready'. But it's difficult for me to relax because of everything I've suffered with so many weight cuts on my back. I'm really scared. But at this weight cut I don't want to go into the fight at 52,6kg. I want to step into the octagon at 56,7kg, be a little stronger. Now I have mastered my traumas and learned. For the fight against Tecia torres I will be really strong and much better than in my last fight, against Marina Rodriguez”, concluded Dern.
Number five in the strawweight rankings, Mackenzie was on the back of four consecutive victories but was stopped by the gaúcha Marina Rodriguez, in October 2021. The Brazilian athlete has a record of 11 triumphs and two setbacks in professional MMA.
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