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Cortney Casey used to train with Mackenzie Dern back when the American-Brazilian lived in Arizona. The MMA Lab was the home of many top talents in the state.
Mackenzie Dern didn't exactly have a good ending to her time with Cortney Casey and the team. Her gym asked her to leave after they felt she wasn't focusing on training as much as she needed to.
Since then Mackenzie Dern seems to have figured things out as she's set to headline her first UFC event. Taking on Marina Rodriguez at UFC Vegas 39.
Cortney Casey spoke with ClutchPoints about being training partners with Mackenzie Dern. She praises the improvements Mackenzie Dern has made in her career and turning things around.
“Oh shit! Mackenzie [Dern] got a main event! Props to her for going out there and doing what she's doing and being able to get the opportunity,” Cortney Casey told ClutchPoints. “She's come a long way since I was her training partner. She found a good camp over there at RVCA. She has good coaches and good training partners. I think with her husband and having her baby, it lit a fire and made her really focus on MMA. Before, when I was training with her, it was still half and half. She was still very active in the jiu-jitsu community as well. Then she made that move to California and really focused on training full-time and dedicating everything to MMA. I think she's only gone up from here.”
One of the big improvements Cortney Casey has seen is in the striking department. Mackenzie Dern has been known for her power but her striking needed polishing.
Jason Parillo has been her main striking coach and he has helped her make big improvements. He's worked with the likes of Michael Bisping, Marlon Vera, and Cris Cyborg,
“Mackenzie has power in her hands,” Casey said. “She has power in her hands! Was her striking all that great or technical? No. But now it's good. Her head movement is good, she moves her head off the line, she's no longer closing her eyes when she throws punches, thinks like that. You can never underestimate her ground game. I think this is a good fight for her and could be a very good win.”
