Does Mackenzie Dern have what it takes to be a UFC champion?

[Takes Two To Tango]

I believe so, she has all the tools in her bag to make a good run and achieve that goal.

 

[nonoob]

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[World eater]

This thread is going to be gold.

 

[Buff]

I'd stick a tool in her bag without hesitation.

 

[Bobby00]

If she gets the right champ at the right time. If Raquel can become champ everything is possible.

 

[13Seconds]

Idk Virna still beats her imo. Actually they should fight next

 

[Mittens]

Depends on who she has to fight to get the belt. Would guess Zhang beats her up before she submits Zhang due her not being too great at takedowns. Probably will outgrapple Suarez though. That is assuming if she just jumps Jandiroba (who could very well beat her too if they fight) to the next title shot after Zhang/Suarez. So, yeah - got what it takes. Could win, favourted against some, not against some.

/asspull analysis with 0 true merit

 

[Lee Danger]

she's tough and she has improved but not enough.
she's still behind the champions' level of this era.

 

[markys00]

Idk Virna still beats her imo. Actually they should fight next

Another rematch for Dern?

 

[13Seconds]

Another rematch for Dern?

Why not. Makes sense imo

 

[werepig]

striking deficit too wide, methinks. losing to strikers yan, andrade and lemos put the nail in that coffin.

 

[AmericanMMA]

She has a great butt. That’s all that I know.

 

[Kung Fu Kowboy]

 

[Thepaintbucket]

She has heart and a good grappling skill set so yes. And this is WMMA we are talking about here

 

[wwkirk]

I don't really expect her to become champ. But it could happen. I don't think she'd be the shockingmost champ ever. All it would take is for a couple of fights to fall through, for her to get a title shot as a result, but then unexpectedly win. (Ergo, I don 't "expect" her to get the belt.)

 

[ninja boot]

I'm still irked by all the accent, pretending not to know how to speak english business.
Honestly though, I feel like she hangs on the edge of the top 5 and never even competes for gold.

 

[Gamer2k4]

Her BJJ would be a problem for anyone. However, anyone's standup would be a problem for her. And given that the fight and every round starts standing...

 

[FreedomCricket]

I voted "yes, however" but I really feel like "no but she might catch someone in a sub to win" type thing. More of a no, but can't rule her out completely.

 

[wwkirk]

OT: Everybody’s belts are highlighted! Is Silver better than Black or vice versa?

 

[RockyLockridge]

IMO no, She's not a championship caliber fighter. However, I'd be lying if i said she couldn't beat any strawweight on the planet. She has better submission skills than any single straw weight on the roster. If she faced a Joanna type fighter with great TTD that wouldn't engage her on the ground she'd get lit up like a christmas tree. Moreover, I think Strawweight is degrading in skill ceiling over the last 4 years and with the right path to the title she could absolutely become champion especially if zhang should decide to move up or retire. I do think That Dern is good enough at submissions to sub Zhang. But I dont see her getting the fight to the point where she can make that happen.


Voting I dont know, Because I see a weaker straw weight division than previous years and I think the UFC likes dern, and would like dern to be champ. So if they UFC gives her an easy path to becoming champion, she could pull it off. up to how the promotion books her.