Mackenzie Darn is still the women’s strawweight champion following UFC 330, and she doesn’t feel a bout with Zhang Weili is necessary to vindicate her title run.
Dern thwarted the challenge of Gillian Robertson inside Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia this past Saturday. At the end of the opening frame, Dern worked her jiu-jitsu game and nearly had a rear-naked choke prior to the horn. Dern had success throughout the fight setting up takedowns and maintaining top control, and it earned her a unanimous decision win.
This was Dern’s first successful UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship defense. Some fans have been calling for Dern to face former 115-pound champion Weili, who was never defeated for the gold in her second reign. Instead, Weili vacated the championship in an effort to chase the women’s flyweight title.
During the UFC 330 post-fight presser, Dern dismissed the idea that she needs to defeat Weili in order to give her title reign credibility (via MMAJunkie).
“I felt like the champion before I won the belt,” Dern said. “I just feel like I solidified myself even more as a champ for the fans that they would say that. I don’t think I need to (beat) Weili to be a champ. People retire. I’m not saying that’s what she’s going to do but the more defenses I can get at this, whoever comes next, I think I proved I was the champ. Gillian was on a five-fight winning streak. Virna was a four-fight winning streak. I just became a four-fight winning streak. I don’t know how much more I need to do from that.”
Weili hasn’t competed since falling short in her bid for the women’s 125-pound championship back in Nov. 2025. Dern didn’t commit to calling out the Fight Wing UFC Hall of Famer, and said it’s up to the UFC matchmakers to determine her next challenger. If it is indeed Weili, Dern feels she will be ready for her second title defense.
Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern, or do you think she needs a win over Zhang Weili to solidify her UFC title run? Share your opinion in the comments below.
This article appeared first on BJPENN.COM
