Mackenzie Dern hints at surprises ahead of UFC 330 title defense

Women's strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern says she has hidden tactics prepared for her first title defense at UFC 330 this Saturday. The 16-5 fighter will face Canadian challenger Gillian Robertson in a matchup between two submission specialists.

Dern addressed recent tension between the competitors, suggesting that the perceived animosity may be one-sided. While Robertson has implied that Dern holds a dislike for her, the champion stated she does not have any personal feelings toward the challenger because they do not know each other. Dern noted that she was previously focused on her pursuit of the title and former champion Weili Zhang, rather than monitoring fighters in other weight classes like Robertson.

Regarding the technical matchup, Dern rated Robertson's MMA grappling ability between an 8 and a 9. She described the Canadian as an aggressive fighter who seeks attacks rather than simply securing takedowns to play it safe. Dern expects Robertson will attempt to find submissions, such as catching a back, and noted that the challenger has previously been submitted via arm-bar.

Despite the high level of grappling expected, Dern believes the fight may take time to reach the ground. She noted that the five-minute round structure provides limited time to work, especially when facing a skilled opponent. Dern also mentioned that while she does not plan to reveal something entirely unprecedented, she does have "tricks up her sleeve" for the bout.

Robertson, a former participant in The Ultimate Fighter, holds the record for the most finishes among women in the UFC. Dern expressed respect for the challenger's career path and acknowledged her effectiveness in finding finishes.