Marina Rodriguez hopes to win 2nd straight UFC Fight Night event

MANILA, Philippines – For Brazilian mixed martial arts fighter Marina Rodriguez, the time is now.

At 34 years of age, she needs to hurdle 28-year old Mackenzie Dern at UFC Fight Night on Sunday, October 10, if she wants to climb that ladder to take on current champion Rose Namajunas.

First things first: Dern (11-1-0) will not be easy pickings. Not only is Dern on a four-bout win streak, but three of them were named “Performance of the Night” so this Brazilian-American can fight some.

“I have been training a lot specifically for her style,” underscored Rodriguez in an interview with philstar.com. “But I have been fighting and training for grapplers so it is nothing new. It is a clash of styles — with Rodriguez preferring a stand up fight as a Muay Thai practitioner — but I am more than ready.”

Rodriguez is known for her all-action pace and excellent take down defense. She admitted that her being sports-minded in her younger days — where she excelled in football and volleyball and did very well in swimming — helps her to this day. 

“The lateral movement and stamina you get from football and volleyball helps in mixed martial arts. Swimming makes you stronger. My experience in other sports helps me in MMA. So even if this fight with Dern goes all the way to a fifth round, I am fine.”

UFC Fight Night 194 will be the second time that Rodriguez headlines an UFC event. She was also in the main event of her previous bout, last May 8 where she took a unanimous decision against Michelle Waterson.

“I am glad the UFC trusts the work that I do and it is being recognized,” noted the 5’6” fighter, who is based at Florianopolis, Brazil. “I think Fight Night 194 will be a great and interesting fight for the fans. I hope to come out on top.”

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