Former UFC flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson has expressed her concerns over Mackenzie Dern’s recent tendency to prioritize striking over her elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu credentials as she prepares for her vacant strawweight title fight against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.
“Mighty Mouse” Johnson, widely regarded as one of the greatest mixed martial artists in history, argues that Dern’s downfall may have come from falling in love with her hands rather than capitalizing on the wrestling dominance that built her reputation.
Mackenzie Dern’s title challenge under the microscope: questions about UFC legends Striking strategy
Dern has a rematch opportunity against Jandiroba after beating her via unanimous decision at UFC 256 in December 2020. However, the path to this title shot has been marked by inconsistency. The 32-year-old has an overall record of 15-5 and has alternated wins and losses in several recent fights, including knockout defeats to Jessica Andrade and a decision loss to Amanda Lemos.
The loss of Andrade at UFC 295 proved particularly revealing about Dern’s glaring vulnerabilities. She suffered her first knockout loss after being knocked down four times in the second round, exposing defensive deficiencies that have persisted since her UFC debut. Analysts noted her high chin, unbalanced footwork and lunging punches as recurring issues that elite strikers have taken advantage of. After the loss, Dern acknowledged that she had become embroiled in an emotional battle and vowed to better control her emotions.
Demetrious Johnson explained:
“This is a rematch where Mackenzie Dern won the first fight. Both have Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belts. Mackenzie needs to start using her BJJ again and take the fight to the middle of the fight. octagonnot against the cage. She must cook her opponent, train her limbs, pass the guard to expose the back, and not fall in love with her hands on her feet.”
Johnson emphasized in his analysis that Dern needs to return to her roots and focus on taking the fight to the center of the octagon. He emphasized that she must train her opponent’s limbs, pass guard to expose the back and resist the temptation to engage in striking exchanges. This assessment is consistent with observations from multiple analysts who have noted that Dern’s striking has improved marginally despite years of work, while her Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu remains world-class.
Dern’s wrestling skills are exceptional. She is a former ADCC and IBJJF world champion who won titles at every level and defeated legendary grappler Gabi Garcia. In MMA, she has a 53 percent success rate and has recorded seven submission victories in the UFC, including the first female leg-lock finish in promotion history. Her ability to aggressively draw defenses and attack from the bottom position has produced highlight-reel moments, including sweeps and submission attempts that forced opponents into dangerous positions.
Dern herself has acknowledged this tendency to accept takedowns too easily, explaining that her comfort on her back sometimes becomes an issue in MMA, where ground control time, referee stand-ups, and shorter rounds make being on the bottom less advantageous than in pure wrestling. Against Jandiroba, a fellow black belt who averages 4.57 takedowns per 15 minutes with a 50 percent success rate and 14 career wins, this approach could prove costly.
For the UFC 321 rematch, both fighters have evolved significantly since their 2020 encounter, which was contested almost entirely on the feet. Jandiroba is on a five-fight winning streak and has earned her reputation as the feminine Demian Maia through her methodical wrestling approach. Dern comes in having put on extra muscle mass and focused on improving her durability for the five-round championship distance.
A win would make Dern the first woman to hold both an ADCC title and a UFC championship, joining an exclusive club with just three men. Fabricio Werdum is the only person to capture IBJJF, World Pro, ADCC and UFC gold. Dern noted the poetic timing of fighting for the UFC title in Abu Dhabi, exactly a decade after winning her first world title in the same city.
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