Dern Misses Weight Again, Pulled from Tournament

Jiu-jitsu phenom Mackenzie Dern is one of the most promising young stars in MMA, but she has struggled mightily when it comes to making weight in both MMA and now jiu-jitsu.

Dern missed weight in her second MMA fight for LFA, coming in at 118.5 lbs for the 115 lb. fight. She won in impressive fashion, securing a submission of the year candidate. But then in her third fight she missed weight yet again, tipping the scales at 120 lbs.

Today it was reported that Dern missed weight ahead of the Abu Dhabi World Pro Tournament and has been pulled from the jiu-jitsu competition.

Dern was expected to face Belgian brown belt Amal Amjahid in the opening round, but her name has now been scratched from the tournament bracket.

In March, Dern competed in the IBJJF’s Rio Falls event and was upset and submitted by Bia Mesquita. She planned on putting on a redemptive performance at Abu Dhabi, but her continued problem with making weight has reared its head yet again

Dern, 24, is expected to sign with the UFC in the near future but her struggles with the scale will need to be figured out before then. If she wants to live up to her potential as the next big female star in MMA, which the UFC is clearly hoping for, then she will have to prove that she can reliably make the contracted weight.