Abu Dhabi: United States star Mackenzie Dern is confident she can complete her hat-trick of titles in the 55kg category of the Abu Dhabi Jiu-Jitsu World Pro on Friday.
Dern, who these days is trying to draw a balance between MMA and Jiu-Jitsu, in the build-up to this tournament suffered a shock defeat at the hands of Beatriz Mesquita of Brazil at the IBJJF Rio Fall Open.
The blow was more astonishing as the contest lasted for just 64 seconds, but Dern is unfazed by the setback.
“I was coming back to Jiu-Jitsu after a gap of around two months and the tournament was more of a test ahead of this event,” said Dern, who is also battling to cut down on some extra pounds ahead of her weigh-in on Friday.
“I’m in good shape but I have to cut some kilos right now and I’m confident I can do that. Usually I like to be weighed-in one day before, so that I can be ready for the fight. I think it is going to be hard, but I’m pretty excited to do this and it is going to be a great fight,” said Dern, adding that she has worked hard so that she can defend her title.
The rule change where no country can have more than two representations in each category, however, should work in Dern’s favour.
“The Brazilians will have to go through the pre-trials and they will fight each other. It will be okay for me though but it will be tougher for them,” said Dern, who had shot into limelight two years ago here at the same venue by stunning the ‘Goliath’ Gabrielle Garcia, the nine-time women’s world champion from Brazil.
The pint-sized dynamo had then gone on to win in the Black Belt absolute and her weight category. She however failed to defend her title in the absolute to Brazilian Tayana Araujo, but managed to hold on to the crown in her weight beating Marina Ribeiro of Brazil.
“It is getting harder by every passing year with lots of girls coming in. This could well be my last full season and might only choose to compete in few Jiu-Jitsu tournaments like the World Pro,” revealed Dern, who will be meeting 20-year-old Belgian Brown Belt Amal Amjahid in the opener.
“The opening bout is always tough you see. Amal is brown belt and she has nothing to lose and such contests are tricky. She will be giving it her everything and you have to be wary about that,” said the 24-year-old.
Dern will also have her father Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias to cheer her from the stands. Dias is here to take part in the legends tournament to be held here on Saturday.
Her father, though he backed his ward to do well at the World Pro, was a bit concerned on her move to MMA.
“As a father, I would be a little bit concerned that she would get a broken nose or suffer an injury. She’s a pretty girl and she’s my only daughter.
“Maybe she should go on to be a model and not do MMA. As a professional, for sure I want to see her to compete. If she can get to UFC, I think she could be one of the top in her class,” said Dias.
Selected Results: Female Adult Purple 90kg: Gold: Heloisa Ferreira (Brazil) Alliance, Silver: Demi Butler (Australia) Maromba Academia Australia, Amelia Lui (Macau Sar China) Atos Jiu- Jistu Team Grips Hk, Bronze: Kamil Gojayev (Azerbaijan) Corvos Combat; Purple 70kg: Gold: Vanessa Maria Varela Pereira (Portugal) Kimura Nova União Switzerland, Silver: Martina Gramenius (Sweden) Checkmat International, Bronze: Battsetseg Tsogochir (Mongolia) Garuda; Purple 62kg: Gold: Julia Seixas Pinto (Brazil) Soul Fighters, Silver: Katharina Araujo (Angola) Gracie Barra Angola, Bronze: Annie Ramirez (Philippines) Clube De Jiu-Jitsu.
