Mackenzie Dern Willing to Be Backup Fighter For UFC 268 Strawweight Title Fight

UFC title belt Photo: Ed Carbajal

Mackenzie Dern will be returning to action on October 9 against Marina Rodriguez. Current UFC rankings have Dern at number four and Rodriguez at number six, a risky fight for Dern but she is nearing the end of her contract. She’s got to get through Rodriguez first but she already has her eye on the strawweight title fight at UFC 268.

Dern and Rodriguez are the main event for the October card which is still being put together with a location yet to be announced, but Dern recently told James Lynch of Low kick MMA that she hopes to at least be present in New York City if she can get past Rodriguez. Lynch asked Dern if the match between her and Rodriguez was more like a contender’s fight and Dern agreed.

“They just confirmed Rose[Namajunas] and Zhang Weili. It’s kind of very close, “ Dern said, “Hopefully I can be there, front row, and watch, you know, maybe my future opponents.”