Mackenzie Dern has had weight-cutting issues in the past and many questioned how bad she wanted to be a fighter. Now, she's one of the top strawweights in the UFC.
Weight-cutting is still a bit of an issue today but not for the same reasons. Mackenzie Dern recently spoke to Shakiel Mahjouri for CBS Sports and revealed the issue she had in her last UFC fight.
“My problem is that almost because of what I went through with not making weight and all the negativity and criticism, my last couple of fights I’ve been so scared to not make weight,” UFC strawweight Dern said. “My last fight I weighed in 114.5 and the next day I was 116 on the day of the fight. And for me, I wish I was heavier than that. But I got so ‘Oh, I shouldn’t eat anything, I want to make sure I make the weight.’ It’s like calm down, don’t worry, you’ll get it. It was a little bit trauma.
“Now this camp, I’m working on keeping my weight heavier and under control,” she continued. “‘Don’t worry, Mackenzie, you got it. Don’t be so scared. You’re ready.’ It’s hard for me to let go of how much I suffered with those weight cuts in the back. So I get really scared now,” the UFC fighter continued.
“But, now, my loss and just being like ‘Oh shoot I don’t want to be 116, I wish I had jumped up to 125 the day of the fight, a little bit stronger’ … now that has took over my traumas and now I’ve learned. So now this fight, I think I’m going to come in really strong and even better than the last one,” the UFC strawweight concluded.
