News Mackenzie Dern is shaking off 'trauma' from old weight-cutting issues: 'I've been so scared'

[Shak_Fu]

Hey Sherdog,

So sorry I didn't share this during UFC 273 fight week. I was on vacation when the interview came out. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. You can click here for the written feature.

Select quotes below.

Mackenzie Dern on how her pregnancy aided her ability to make weight:

"My pregnancy really did restart my body and my metabolism and everything. Breastfeeding, I lost so much body fat with that," Dern told CBS Sports. "When I made the transition from jiu-jitsu to MMA, I was doing these different kinds of weight cuts where they want you to lose water weight. In jiu-jitsu, you don't have that. In jiu-jitsu, we weigh in and we fight at the same moment. No one really cuts that way. I started my MMA career doing these different diets. My body and my hormones and everything were getting unbalanced... I lost a lot of muscle mass too."

How media attention over her weight cuts has affected her:

"Now my problem is -- almost because of what I went through with not making weight and the negativity and criticism and everything -- my last couple of fights, I've been so scared to not make weight," Dern said. "I'm on top of it. My last fight, I weighed 114.5. The [contracted] weigh-in is 115. The next day, I was 116 on the day of the fight. For me, I wish I was heavier than that but 'no, no, no, I shouldn't eat anything. I want to make sure I make the weight.' I needed to calm down and not worry. 'Don't worry, you can get it.' It was kind of a little bit of trauma."

Full video interview below.



Timestamps:
1:18 - Proper No. 12 and Conor McGregor
2:38 - Striking vs Wrestling
5:04 - Mackenzie Dern vs Tecia Torres
6:50 - Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza and UFC strawweight title fight
8:20 - Transitioning from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to MMA
10:02 - Weight cut trauma
13:57 - Daughter of Wellington Megaton Dias
17:43 - Motherhood
18:51 - US vs. Brazil

 

[Pierced7681]

I’d like to see Mackenzie move up and challenge Valentina. Would be interesting if Val uses her wrestling.

 

[Luthien]

Pretty impressive how much her English has improved

 

[kingghidrah]

I’d like to see Mackenzie move up and challenge Valentina. Would be interesting if Val uses her wrestling.

Why on earth would she? She would just destroy her on the standup, use her wrestling to avoid takedowns, and completely dominate the match. Worst nightmare ever for Dern, and I'm a Dern fan.

 

[NoSmilez]

It's more like she didn't have a good camp or she is a pain to work with. She is sort of green and is on her 3rd camp.

 

[Arrrrgh]

English is both her first and third language. Cut her some slack for mixing up words like trauma and drama.`

 

[Post 2 Decision]

I miss thicc Mackenzie

 

[sherdogwantedtonamemekiki]

The fuck is she talking about? I would cut water weight before IBJJF tournaments all the time. I did it more when I got older because my usual diet wasn't taking off he fat as quickly as it used too. You just rehydrate before your watch. Just don't chug your water. Anyone else do this?

 

[Ian]

I respect her bravery.

I also found her more attractive when she was missing weight.

 

[sherdogwantedtonamemekiki]

"My pregnancy really did restart my body and my metabolism and everything. Breastfeeding, I lost so much body fat with that," Dern told CBS Sports. "When I made the transition from jiu-jitsu to MMA, I was doing these different kinds of weight cuts where they want you to lose water weight. In jiu-jitsu, you don't have that. In jiu-jitsu, we weigh in and we fight at the same moment. No one really cuts that way. I started my MMA career doing these different diets. My body and my hormones and everything were getting unbalanced... I lost a lot of muscle mass too."

How media attention over her weight cuts has affected her:

"Now my problem is -- almost because of what I went through with not making weight and the negativity and criticism and everything -- my last couple of fights, I've been so scared to not make weight," Dern said. "I'm on top of it. My last fight, I weighed 114.5. The [contracted] weigh-in is 115. The next day, I was 116 on the day of the fight. For me, I wish I was heavier than that but 'no, no, no, I shouldn't eat anything. I want to make sure I make the weight.' I needed to calm down and not worry. 'Don't worry, you can get it.' It was kind of a little bit of trauma."


I am so fucking confused. So she's saying cutting water weight didn't work in MMA but her diets were, somewhat, and now she's still just doing diets without cutting water weight? So nothing changed she just stopped eating food?

 

[sherdogwantedtonamemekiki]

And can a metabolism "restart" itself?

 

[Rorschachxx]

I’d like to see Mackenzie move up and challenge Valentina. Would be interesting if Val uses her wrestling.

Valentina would make her look like an amateur. Sure it would be interesting in the grappling department, but Val is far too calculated for that. She'd absolutely pick her apart on the feet, it would look like an absolute mismatch.

 

[ChaelSonnen]

Valentina would make her look like an amateur. Sure it would be interesting in the grappling department, but Val is far too calculated for that. She'd absolutely pick her apart on the feet, it would look like an absolute mismatch.

Sounds like what they were saying before Nunes/Pena

 

[Masturbin]

My pregnancy really did restart my body and my metabolism and everything. Breastfeeding, I lost so much body fat with that,

Jon Anik rn

 

[Rorschachxx]

Sounds like what they were saying before Nunes/Pena

Veeeery different styles my man. And believe it or not, I actually had a feeling Pena was going to pull off the upset but obv. no way to prove that since I don't bet. Valentina is a clean striker who plays the outside game and uses a variety of kicks, speed, straight attacks, etc. Amanda has a tendency to get into brawls, Val doesn't. And Mackenzies striking is solid but she'd struggle getting to Valentina. Amanda walked right into Penas shots and jabs, head first. Constantly stepping into her trying to land jabs that were far too slow. Also Amandas cardio is always suspect when the fight is back and forth. Valentina doesn't really struggle with that. In all fairness, I will say she seemed overly cautious against Maia who has a great ground game, so anything is possible in MMA.

 

[mmafan559]

who wants to suck my man tits to restart my metabolism

 

[FreedomCricket]

And can a metabolism "restart" itself?

I'm not a doctor.. or biologist, but I do know, at least anecdotally, that pregnancy can do a lot of weird things to a woman's body. Like give them naturally curly hair after, etc.. so I wouldn't doubt that it could Jumpstart metabolism.

 

[Brettco]

Hey Sherdog,

So sorry I didn't share this during UFC 273 fight week. I was on vacation when the interview came out. Thanks to everyone who submitted questions. You can click here for the written feature.

Select quotes below.

Mackenzie Dern on how her pregnancy aided her ability to make weight:

"My pregnancy really did restart my body and my metabolism and everything. Breastfeeding, I lost so much body fat with that," Dern told CBS Sports. "When I made the transition from jiu-jitsu to MMA, I was doing these different kinds of weight cuts where they want you to lose water weight. In jiu-jitsu, you don't have that. In jiu-jitsu, we weigh in and we fight at the same moment. No one really cuts that way. I started my MMA career doing these different diets. My body and my hormones and everything were getting unbalanced... I lost a lot of muscle mass too."

How media attention over her weight cuts has affected her:

"Now my problem is -- almost because of what I went through with not making weight and the negativity and criticism and everything -- my last couple of fights, I've been so scared to not make weight," Dern said. "I'm on top of it. My last fight, I weighed 114.5. The [contracted] weigh-in is 115. The next day, I was 116 on the day of the fight. For me, I wish I was heavier than that but 'no, no, no, I shouldn't eat anything. I want to make sure I make the weight.' I needed to calm down and not worry. 'Don't worry, you can get it.' It was kind of a little bit of trauma."

Full video interview below.



Timestamps:
1:18 - Proper No. 12 and Conor McGregor
2:38 - Striking vs Wrestling
5:04 - Mackenzie Dern vs Tecia Torres
6:50 - Rose Namajunas, Carla Esparza and UFC strawweight title fight
8:20 - Transitioning from Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to MMA
10:02 - Weight cut trauma
13:57 - Daughter of Wellington Megaton Dias
17:43 - Motherhood
18:51 - US vs. Brazil

I like her. Seems nice and happy. A smile goes a long long way in women.

 

[mjfan23]

Was hoping for some her shaking GIFS

 

[TankAbbott4Eva]

I miss thicc Mackenzie

I wouldn’t call her drop dead gorgeous but she is a damn sexy woman.