MMA
Mackenzie Dern outgrapples Gillian Robertson to win lackluster title fight in UFC 330 co-main event
Published
3 weeks agoon
Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her strawweight title with a largely one-sided but somewhat lackluster outing against Gillian Robertson in the UFC 330 co-main event.
Takedowns and submission attempts ruled the day for Dern as she came close to finishing Robertson a couple of times during the fight but she mostly just maintained control and showed she was the superior grappler. Robertson really didn't produce any offense until the final round and even then she just managed to stay in control on the ground without really damaging Dern.
When it was over the judges scored the fight 49-46, 49-46 and 48-47 with Dern getting the unanimous decision victory.
“I'm super happy,†Dern said about her win. “My first title win I got taken down a lot of times so I've been working on my wrestling. I'm still the champion. I definitely wanted to submit her, that was the goal. I try to get submissions in all my fights. I wish I could do some more damage to set up the submissions.â€
A striking exchange led to Robertson shooting for a takedown but Dern countered effectively before the strawweights separated again. Dern was very effective with her combinations including a stiff leg kick that kept chipping away at Robertson's base.
A moment later, Dern scored her first takedown and she immediately began raining down punches before advancing to half-guard. That led to Dern briefly looking for a kimura but she maintained a dominant position and eventually taking the back.
Dern quickly snatched a rear-naked choke and it looked like the fight was over but Robertson stayed tough and she survived until the horn sounded to end the round.
On the restart, Dern immediately took Robertson to the ground again and she was quick to start setting up submissions. A second later, Dern took the back and tried an unorthodox arm triangle choke that ended up with Robertson getting on top, although she was still stuck playing defense with the champion constantly attacking with submission attempts.
Robertson did manage to connect with some solid uppercuts when she finally grabbed onto Dern in the clinch but she just wasn't able to do much damage. Dern was still landing solid punches of her own including a stiff jab that was constantly finding Robertson's chin.
As soon as Robertson got a little too aggressive, Dern countered with a takedown to bring the fight back to her world on the canvas. Time ran out before she could do much of anything but Dern still exerted her superior control whenever she turned to her grappling.
Dern snatched another takedown in the fourth round and quickly moved to take the back while locking on the body triangle. From there, Dern kept searching for the rear-naked choke but she just couldn't secure the submission.
With five minutes remaining, Robertson finally secured a takedown of her own but she just couldn't produce much offense with Dern defending from the bottom. That's effectively how the whole round played out with Dern immediately celebrating her victory after the final horn sounded.
Dern now has a title defense on her resume as she awaits her next challenge with former champion Zhang Weili as the most desired opponent if she decides to compete again at 115 pounds.
You may like
MMA
Muhammad Mokaev claims he’s best flyweight in world after UFC exit
Published
1 hour agoon
September 5, 2026
Mokaev is convinced he's the best flyweight across mixed
martial arts.
Mokaev (17-0) continues to win titles outside the
Ultimate Fighting Championship since his controversial exit
from the promotion. He repeatedly campaigned for a UFC return while
picking up wins in MMA, submission grappling and Karate Combat.
Muhammad Mokaev explains why he believes he's the world's top
flyweight
When asked by Red Corner MMA whether he considers himself the best
125-pounder in the world, Mokaev reiterated his past claims. The
Dagestan-born Brit added that he'll continue winning outside the
UFC after being denied a title shot in the premier
organization.
“I just know it,†Mokaev said. “I know they just didn't give me a
chance to get the belt. I'll keep collecting belts all over the
world and calling their fighters out.â€
After leaving the UFC, he won the
Brave CF flyweight championship before adding the ACBJJ title
to his list of accolades. After winning the latter, “The Punisherâ€
sent a message to UFC CEO Dana
White.
“Dana said two years ago, ‘Become champion somewhere else.' I
became Brave CF champion, ACBJJ champion, five fights, four
finishes, staying busy and showing the world why I’m the best
flyweight in the world,†Mokaev previously said in a video posted
on social media.
Muhammad
Mokaev believes he's already the best flyweight in the world
and says he'll continue collecting belts worldwide while calling
out top UFC fighters.“I just know it,†Mokaev told Red Corner MMA when asked if he feels
like he's the best flyweight in the world.“And I… pic.twitter.com/uzAiETFSfj
— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA)
September 3, 2026
Muhammad
Mokaev sends a message to Dana White 👀“Dana said 2 years ago – ‘he can become champion somewhere
else’.I became Brave CF champion, I became ACBJJ champion, I won 5 fights
with 4 finishes within 2 years. Staying busy, staying active and
showing the world why I’m the… pic.twitter.com/vMKd9eQ957— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS)
August 31, 2026
MMA
Israel Adesanya makes major training change amid UFC losing skid
Published
3 hours agoon
September 5, 2026
MMA
Jorge Masvidal credits Kimbo Slice for helping launch his fighting career
Published
5 hours agoon
September 5, 2026
Masvidal remembers exactly how Kimbo
Slice influenced his career.
Speaking to Daniel
Cormier, the former
Ultimate Fighting Championship title challenger and BMF champ
detailed how a shared connection to Miami’s Freestyle Fighting
Academy eventually led to him competing on Slice’s backyard-fight
platform.
Jorge Masvidal recalls how Kimbo Slice gave him a shot on his
backyard-fight platform
Masvidal revealed that he and Slice came from nearby areas, had
mutual friends and began training together at the same gym. By
then, Masvidal was already pursuing mixed martial arts
seriously.
“Well, particularly with Kimbo, it just so happened we didn't grow
up far from each other,†Masvidal said. “We had some friends in
common and we ended up at the same gym, Freestyle Fighting Academy,
and we started training.â€
Masvidal recalled already having amateur fights and grappling
experience when one of the gym owners asked Slice to watch him
spar. At the time, Slice's videos were generating massive attention
online.
“One of the gym owners asked him, goes, ‘Man, I got a really
talented dude. I want you to watch him spar and see if you'll put
him on,'†Masvidal said. “I always give him big props because he
put me on his platform. He didn't have to.â€
Masvidal said the fights were kept secret because organizers risked
fines and potential arrest, and recalled receiving just two hours’
notice before one event. The first event took place in Liberty
City, Miami, behind a laundromat. Before Masvidal’s bout, Slice
warned him about his opponent’s right hand.
“I'm going to give you the location right now. You got two hours to
get there,†Masvidal recalled being told. “He comes back about 20
seconds later and he goes, ‘Keep your left hand up. He's got a
really, really good right.' So, we got in there, and we made magic,
man.â€
Muhammad Mokaev claims he’s best flyweight in world after UFC exit
Israel Adesanya makes major training change amid UFC losing skid
Jorge Masvidal credits Kimbo Slice for helping launch his fighting career
Trending
-
Boxing2 days agoShakur Stevenson Responds to Rival World Champion Avoidance Accusations: I Make Him Nervous
-
MMA1 day agoGregory Rodrigues sees ‘technical mistakes’ he can exploit in Dricus Du Plessis
-
MMA2 days agoAnthony Wint says gambling addiction was bigger battle than 2 UFC fights
-
MMA2 days agoKhamzat Chimaev gets Gilbert Burns rematch, this time on wrestling mat
-
MMA2 days agoAndre Lima says Bilal Hasan walked with ‘head down’ before callout
-
MMA2 days agoTyson Fury moving on from Anthony Joshua fight, trashes Eddie Hearn: ‘I can’t make a coward fight’
-
MMA2 days agoAlex Pereira’s sister reportedly set for DWCS fight against former One champ
-
Boxing2 days agoTeddy Atlas Predicts Damian Knybas Upset Victory in Opening Match


