JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Mackenzie Dern realized lots from her first UFC foremost occasion, and hopes the takeaways from it is going to end in a victory at UFC 273.
On the heels of a four-fight win streak, Dern (11-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) entered the primary five-round contest of her UFC profession in opposition to Marina Rodriguez in November. It was a battle that went the distance and didn’t go in her favor when the judges rendered their scores. Nevertheless, regardless of the loss, Dern discovered classes to use to her upcoming bout in opposition to Tecia Torres.
“I have 25 minutes of footage I can go back and just study,” Dern advised MMA Junkie and different reporters at Wednesday’s media day. “I think I matured so much as a fighter after that fight. I went through a lot of adversity in that fight. I had knee surgery later. Marina’s really experienced.
“So it just shows that when you get to the top, a little mistake or a little second-guessing – I guess I’d say I did a lot in that fight. I second-guessed myself on a lot of things even on the ground. I was thinking, should I ground and pound more? Should I go for the submission? Just go, you know? That’s what it’s about. We’re here to fight. Just trust in the process, trust in the training, and that’s what I was able to do in this camp.”
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Video: Who has more at stake at UFC 273 between Mackenzie Dern and Tecia Torres?
Mackenzie Dern: Tecia Torres is going to ‘try to overwhelm me’ in ‘very important’ UFC 273 matchup
Torres (13-5 MMA, 9-5 UFC), who will enter Saturday’s contest operating scorching on a three-fight win streak, presents related challenges for Dern that she confronted within the battle in opposition to Rodriguez. Each are sharp strikers who transfer shortly and are good defensively.
“I’m excited to fight Tecia,” Dern mentioned. “She’s a little bit similar as in striking, she has good footwork, kind of like Marina. So I’m happy I’m fighting someone with a little bit similar style and I can really just correct the things that I messed up in that fight and show that I’m ready to be top 5 and up.”
Try the complete media day interview with Dern within the video above.
