Does she like her or not? UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Mackenzie Dern has denied having any personal animosity towards UFC 330 challenger Gillian Robertson, simply because she doesn’t know her.
At today’s UFC 330 media day, Robertson made her feelings known.
“She was making comments all through the camp about how she doesn’t know me. She doesn’t think my Jiu-jitsu is good and all this stuff and now: ‘It isn’t like I don’t like her’. Why is she trying to take this back now? You have been talking all this s–t through camp. Keep that same energy…I don’t like her right now. We are about to fight each other this week,” she said.
Later on, Dern had her say.
“I don’t like her or dislike her. I don’t know her but there is a lot of stuff that I am learning about her this week not because I have anything against her. She has had her eyes more on me than me on her…I was really focused on who has been ahead of me not who has been behind me. It is not like I wasn’t paying attention. It is not that I don’t like her or do. I respect her journey in UFC…I think she is the one who doesn’t like me,” she responded.
Dern explained that she only met her face-to-face this week.
“That was the first time I have ever met her. I have never seen her in person. She looks happy and confident. We are both here to throw down,” said Dern.
Speaking to the press, Robertson cited her long journey to finally reach this title match.
“I have had the longest route to any title fight of any female. This will be my 21st fight with the UFC,” she said. “I am more confident than ever. I am ready for this opportunity.”
From Niagara Falls, Ontario, Robertson was thankful for all the support she has in Canada. “I felt a lot of the Canadian fans getting behind me, I will say 100 percent. Canada has been in full support,” she said proudly.
The highlight of this fight for many will be the clash of Jiu-jitsu and grappling between Robertson and Dern.
Robertson thinks her diversity as a fighter will give her the edge.
“I don’t want to diminish anything. She has really good Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. It is just this is MMA. I think that is where I am going to be able to shine. I think she is going to being a lot of fight but it is going to wear out in the later rounds and I am going to shine…She is going to come right at me and throw everything she has got,” she said.
Dern rated Robertson an 8 when it comes to Jiu-jitsu.
“Each round is only five minutes so that isn’t a lot of time to work especially when she is good and she knows what she is doing. I don’t know what belt she is but if she is a black belt she is aggressive and goes for it. I think she is going to progress in the fight and not just try a takedown and stay safe. She is not someone I want to fall in a bad position with….There are definitely weaknesses or holds…I have some tricks up my sleeve,” said Dern.
UFC 330 takes place this Saturday.
Here is the card:
Main card (Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET)
Islam Makhachev vs. Ian Machado Garry – UFC Welterweight Championship
Mackenzie Dern vs. Gillian Robertson – UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
Charles Johnson vs. Jose Ochoa
Mansur Abdul-Malik vs. Dustin Stoltzfus
Edson Barboza vs. Esteban Ribovics
Prelims (Paramount+ at 7 p.m ET)
Chidi Njokuani vs. Joel Alvarez
Jalin Turner vs. Kaue Fernandes
Donte Johnson vs. Eric McConico
Vicente Luque vs. Tresean Gore
Early prelims (Paramout+ at 5:30 p.m. ET)
Rafael Tobias vs. Lucas Fernando
Neil Magny vs. Ramiz Brahimaj
Jeremiah Wells vs. Myktybek Orolbai
