Dern On UFC 330 Win: 'I Could've Finished This Fight'
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Mackenzie Dern defended her strawweight title with a decision over Gillian Robertson at UFC 330 but walked away feeling she should have done more.
Dern dominated the grappling exchanges in Philadelphia and nearly secured a rear-naked choke in the first round, but the bell saved Robertson. The champion controlled position over the final 20 minutes without finding another submission. "It feels good, but it could feel even better if I would've got the submission," Dern said at the post-fight press conference, per MMA Mania. "I definitely think that I could've finished this fight for sure."
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Dern Rejects Weili Zhang Pressure
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion said she felt the defense solidified her status despite critics who claim she has not faced former titleholder Weili Zhang. Dern pointed to her run through Robertson and previous challenger Virna Jandiroba, both of whom entered their title shots on five-fight winning streaks. She said she does not need a Zhang win to prove legitimacy.
Dern told reporters she plans to return around March for a second defense. She acknowledged the media obligations that followed her title win changed her routine, but said she is adjusting to the champion workload. Her team reviewed positional improvements in the locker room immediately after the fight.
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The UFC has not announced Dern's next opponent. She said she will be ready for whoever the promotion assigns.
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