Mackenzie Dern drew inspiration from BJJ legend Royce Gracie.
Lengthy earlier than making her UFC debut in 2018, the jiu-jitsu world champion knew that it was her future to signify the game of BJJ on MMA’s largest stage. At this time, the Phoenix native is 15 fights into her UFC profession and at present sits because the sixth-ranked contender within the ladies’s strawweight division.
Dern believes she owes a few of that success to Gracie.
“Gracie was considered one of my largest influences,” Dern instructed MMA Junkie. I assumed, ‘Okay, I’m going to enter MMA.’ UFC 1 was loopy—they began with jiu-jitsu. That gave me braveness. There wasn’t a lady’s jiu-jitsu consultant in UFC or MMA, so I actually felt extra braveness to do it. Then I took on the duty of representing jiu-jitsu for ladies in MMA.”
For a lot of, Gracie was their first introduction to jiu-jitsu. Making his promotional debut on the inaugural UFC occasion in 1993, the Brazilian ran by way of the competitors, submitting three opponents in a single evening to develop into the first-ever UFC match champion.
Gracie nonetheless holds information for essentially the most tournaments gained in UFC historical past and the longest ending streak, submitting 11 straight opponents. He was inducted into the UFC Corridor of Fame in November 2003.
Mackenzie Dern needs to be like Charles Oliveira
Nevertheless, Gracie wasn’t Dern’s solely supply of inspiration.
“And Charles Oliveira—simply seeing him, he’s my largest inspiration,” Dern added. “I’m simply making an attempt to catch him! He has essentially the most submissions, most bonuses. I need to be like him. His profession took some time, he had accidents, however I observe his profession, and I believe it’s a bit bit much like mine.”
Although he got here up quick towards Ilia Topuria at UFC 317, there’s no denying Oliveira’s standing as probably the greatest fighters the game has ever seen. Do Bronx’ has put away 20 of his 23 opponents contained in the Octagon, making him essentially the most prolific finisher in UFC historical past — 16 of these wins coming by way of submission.
What’s subsequent for Dern stays to be seen, however she’s at present sitting on back-to-back wins after besting each Crazy Godinez and Amanda Ribas in her most up-to-date outings. If she will get her want, Dern may have the possibility to flex her BJJ abilities towards top-ranked contender Virna Jandiroba.
