UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern recently clapped back at Din Thomas for downplaying her title fight at UFC 321. Thomas called the bout insignificant, and Dern responded. She defended the value of the vacant title fight on her division.
Dern faced Virna Jandiroba in the UFC 321 co-main event last Saturday. The fight lasted all five rounds, with Dern earning a unanimous decision win. That victory crowned her the new strawweight champion.
The title was vacant after Zhang Weili moved up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko for her title at UFC 322.
During her appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Dern addressed Thomas’ remarks. She admitted feeling disappointed but stood firm in her belief that her fight mattered.
Dern questioned why her fight should be seen differently than other vacant title fights. She pointed out that divisions regularly crown new champions when titles are vacated. According to her, it’s part of keeping the division moving.
“Jon Jones gave up his [heavyweight title] and Tom Aspinall became the champion. What do we in the [strawweight] division have to do with [these circumstances?],” Dern said. “People can’t retire, can’t want to leave and go up a weight class? If there was a vacant belt, who else would fight for the belt?”
She added:
“I don’t understand what would be so insignificant about finding a champion. [Weili] could have just retired,” Dern said. “Then what [will the UFC] do? They’re gonna keep the division open. They’ve got to have a champion, so I don’t understand. How is any championship fight insignificant? So, it’s just crazy for me to hear.”
Mackenzie Dern Looks Ahead as UFC Strawweight Champion
Mackenzie Dern also revealed that she is focused on her future goals. She isn’t dwelling on Din Thomas‘ criticism and instead channeling her energy into evolving as a fighter.
Becoming champion marked a significant milestone in her career, but Dern knows the work doesn’t stop there. She said her camp for UFC 321 pushed her. Now, she feels motivated to build on her progress.
“Of course I’m recovering right now but I just feel weird not doing what I’ve been doing the last eight weeks. I just want to keep doing that more,” Dern told The Ariel Helwani Show. “If I can get to the organization and everything I did for this camp and just [continue] for two months, maybe six months, a whole year, three years, imagine the type of beast I could become.”
Dern Names Ideal Opponent for Her First Title Defense
Dern already has her eyes on her first title defense. While she would love to face Zhang Weili, she also named Tatiana Suarez as a potential challenger.
During the UFC 321 post-fight press conference, Dern said she’s ready for whoever the UFC sends her way. She wants to prove she’s a true champion willing to fight anyone and establish her title reign.
“I don’t know how much say I have in being a champion. I don’t know how much my word and my decision getting into play, but I’m here to defend [my strawweight title],” Dern said. “Whoever gets sent to me, I’ll be ready for her. So, I don’t know if Weili [will return to strawweight] but I would definitely like to just fight Tatiana [Suarez].”
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