UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern is heating up social media with a scorching swimsuit photo that has fans buzzing. The 33-year-old fighter, known for her dominance inside the cage, is proving she can turn heads just as easily outside of it.
Dern is set to defend her title this Saturday against Gillian Robertson at UFC 330, but her latest Instagram post has shifted some of the spotlight onto her beach-ready look. The photo, which shows Dern soaking up the sun in a stylish swimsuit, quickly drew an avalanche of praise from her followers.
“Absolute perfection,” one fan declared, while another chimed in, “You’re spectacular.” The comments section lit up with similar admiration, echoing the kind of frenzy seen with other athletes like Salma Hayek's SI swimsuit photos that had fans calling her the GOAT.
Dern, who has been with the UFC since March 2018, is riding a three-fight win streak, with victories over Loopy Godinez, Amanda Ribas, and Virna Jandiroba. Her recent success, she says, owes a debt to an unlikely source: poker. The champion has taken up no-limit Texas hold'em, and she credits the game with sharpening her mental game.
“In poker you need to be able to control your emotions. There’s times I’d have a pair of aces and go all in, but then no-one jumps in and you get very little money for it,” Dern told BBC Sports. “I’ve learned how to be more calm. Poker is a patience game. That emotional part and reading people is something I didn’t have but since poker, I’ve been able to implement that into my fighting.”
Her opponent, Gillian Robertson, is entering the bout as the challenger but exudes confidence. Robertson, known for her aggressive style, isn't intimidated by Dern's jiu-jitsu pedigree.
“This isn’t jiu-jitsu, it’s an MMA fight,” Robertson told CBS Sports. “I’m going to go in there and show her the damage I’m capable of delivering and make it a violent fight and just drown her. I’m down for a dog fight and I think that’s the way I win it, honestly. I need to make it ugly for her and to get her in the clinch and throw elbows. I just need to make her not want to be in there with me.”
As fight night approaches, Dern's social media presence continues to generate buzz, much like the recent Danica Patrick yoga pants vacation photo that stirred up social media. But Dern remains focused on the task at hand, blending her newfound poker patience with her relentless fighting spirit.
The main card for UFC 330 kicks off at 9 p.m. ET on Paramount+, and all eyes will be on Dern as she looks to extend her winning streak and silence her challenger.
