It appears that not many see Mackenzie Dern as the best strawweight in the UFC.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist made her first defense of the 115-pound title at last Saturday’s UFC 330 event in Philadelphia.
Before welterweight champion Islam Makhachev defeated Ian Machado Garry in the headliner, Dern got the better of Gillian Robertson across five rounds.
But many are still struggling to acknowledge Dern as the division’s best given the presence of Zhang Weili, who many want to return to the weight class after her failed bid at two-division glory up at flyweight.
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Fans overwhelmingly back Zhang Weili to reclaim the UFC strawweight title if she challenges Mackenzie Dern
Bloody Elbow readers have been engaging in a TalkingPoints discussion following the strawweight champion’s triumph in the UFC 330 co-main event, prompted by the question, “How does Mackenzie Dern vs Zhang Weili play out?”
A number of fans responded on the TalkingPoints platform, with only one user seeing a path to victory for Dern if she can learn from Valentina Shevchenko’s success nine months ago.
“I like Dern but I think Zhang would make quick work of her. She’s just too fast and her striking is way better than Dern’s,” esmagicman wrote.
“Dern if she does what Valentina did. Grapple her and she wins, but if (she) tries stand and bang then it could be bad for Dern. She is very aggressive and Weili can catch that lucky shot for sure,” jb4734443 commented.
“As much as I’d like to say Dern could give her a fight, I think Weili is too good. She is violent, fast, highly skilled everywhere. Dern has improved a lot but she’s not ready for Weili right now. I’d love to be wrong. I’m a Dern fan,” goheels27330 said.
Over a hundred more fans responded on the Bloody Elbow Facebook page, where almost every prediction went in favor of Weili.
“Weili easy, as much as I have mad love for Dern. Zhang Weili is on a whole nother level.”
“I’m actually LOVING Dern’s champion era, but I do believe that Zhang would demolish her.”
“Dern is in trouble.”
“I love Mackenzie, but I’m sorry, Zhang would destroy her.”
“30 seconds, over, KO. Unless Dern just hugs her the whole time.”
“That would be a baaaaaaad day for Dern…”
“Zhang will strike her apart.”
But the reigning queen was not without some supporters.
“Dern will choke her out.”
“Dern will finish her. (Weili) has zero ground game.”
“If it goes to the ground, Dern.”
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How do the Bloody Elbow staff predict Mackenzie Dern vs Zhang Weili?
The Bloody Elbow team also chimed in with their thoughts, and only one would give Dern a chance of having her hand raised over ‘Magnum’.
Harvey Leonard: “Weili by whatever she wants. Would not even be competitive.”
Jordan Ellis: “I don’t see anything but a Weili win. There are a handful of world-class wmma fighters, she’s one of them and Dern isn’t.”
Kyle Dimond: “I thought Mackenzie looked like she’s improved a lot at UFC 330 but still can’t help but feel like Zhang is just levels ahead.”
Jamie Theodosi: “I’d say Zhang (is) definitely the better fighter but she’s been inactive now for a while and she isn’t young.”
Before Weili lost to Shevchenko last November, many were suggesting that title glory in a second weight class would have put the Chinese star up there with ‘Bullet’ and Amanda Nunes in women’s GOAT contention.
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