While Mackenzie
Dern is a strong, independent woman, she prefers her man
running the show.

Dern puts her
Ultimate Fighting Championship strawweight title on the line
against Gillian
Robertson in the co-main event of UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Ahead
of the event, Dern addressed headliner Ian Garry's
recent comments about women running the world.

Mackenzie Dern discusses traditional relationships before her
UFC 330 title defense

Garry recently drew a variety of reactions from fans and fellow
fighters for saying that the world would be a better place if women
ran everything. However, the UFC women's strawweight champion
disagrees with Garry. Dern says that while women in her family are
strong, she comes from a traditional background. Dern likes being
protected and cared for by her man, though she wouldn't hesitate to
go to war alongside him if needed.

“I come from a little bit more traditional upbringing,†Dern said
at UFC 330 media day. “Obviously, the women in my family are super
strong and independent. And they taught me how to be a strong
woman. But I like the guy protecting, leading and doing that stuff.
And I like to just relax. If I need to go to war with him, I will.
But I'm a mommy. I think it's very good that we're strong women and
we don't depend on guys. But I like the man taking the lead.â€

Dern looks to defend her title for the first time since winning it
last year, while Garry challenges Islam
Makhachev for the welterweight championship, looking to snap
the Dagestani's historic win streak.

Ian
Garry believes Islam
Makhachev is significantly shorter than he is, despite the
minimal height difference at their first face-off.

Garry (17-1) is set to challenge Makhachev (28-1) for the
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. At
6-foot-3 tall, Garry officially has a 5-inch height advantage over
Makhachev. However, they were nearly eye-to-eye when they faced off
for the first time in front of the iconic Rocky statue in
Philly.

Ian Garry addresses lack of height difference in first face-off
with Islam Makhachev

Garry claims Makhachev was wearing high heels to nullify the height
difference. The Irishman is sure that he'll be significantly taller
during the ceremonial weigh-in face-offs, where they both have to
wear the same type of shoes.

“He was wearing high heels,†Garry said in an interview with
Paramount+. “He was wearing stilettos. Wait till you see Friday
night when we're both wearing the same shoes… Because we're
obligated to wear the same shoes.â€

Makhachev refuted Garry's accusations, claiming to have worn
regular shoes during the face-off. The Dagestani champion also says
that he has grown bigger since the UFC first recorded his official
height at 5-foot-10 before his Octagon debut in 2015.

“It's regular shoes, nothing special,†Makhachev said. “And that
number which I have right now is because UFC check my [height] when
I debuted 10-11 years ago. UFC have to check again. I have become
big right now. I'm welterweight, no more lightweight.â€

A career-defining clash 👊@MAKHACHEVMMA
vs @iangarryMMA

[ #UFC330
| LIVE SAT AUG 15 | 9pmET on @ParamountPlus
] pic.twitter.com/LIs18fqJWq

— UFC (@ufc) August
12, 2026

Was Islam
Makhachev wearing “puffed up” shoes during his face off with
Ian
Machado Garry? 🤔

[ #UFC330
| SAT Aug 15 9pm ET on @paramountplus
] pic.twitter.com/f2MVC5K4HS

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount)
August 12, 2026

Ian
Garry felt like Islam
Makhachev didn't want to be at their first face-off.

Makhachev (28-1) defends his
Ultimate Fighting Championship welterweight title against Garry
(17-1) at UFC
330 on Aug. 15 at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia.
Makhachev and Garry recently faced off for the first time in front
of the iconic Rocky statue in Philly, where the challenger
perceived nerves on the champ's part.

Ian Garry on face-off with Islam Makhachev: ‘He didn't want to
be there'

Garry claims to have felt some “nervous energy†from the Dagestani
champion. However, he also admitted that it was an unofficial
face-off and the one that actually matters is the official one at
the ceremonial weigh-ins, after they've made weight.

“I just kind of felt like yesterday he didn't want to be there,â€
Garry said at UFC 330 media day. “He didn't want to be at the
face-off. I sensed a little bit of nervous energy from him. But
they are face-offs; they are fake, they are for social media, they
are for Instagram, they are for obligations. They're not for us.
The face-off that matters to me is Friday, when we've made weight,
when we've done all the hard work, we show up in front of fans and
it's the last time we get to look at each other before we meet in
the Octagon.â€

Meanwhile, Makhachev seemed completely unfazed by Garry's
perception. The Russian says this is the second time in his career
that he is enjoying every moment of fight week.

“I’m not nervous,†Makhachev said at media day. “This is like my
second fight week in my life where I enjoying every moment.â€

A career-defining clash 👊@MAKHACHEVMMA
vs @iangarryMMA

[ #UFC330
| LIVE SAT AUG 15 | 9pmET on @ParamountPlus
] pic.twitter.com/LIs18fqJWq

— UFC (@ufc) August
12, 2026