Mackenzie Dern. Photo: Erin Herle/ GracieMag

Mackenzie Dern failed to take the gold in the last edition of the IBJJF Pan in late March, in Irvine. In the absolute, the petite fighter eliminated Talita Treta with a choke, but then succumbed to Gabi Garcia. In the featherweight, Megaton Dias’ daughter was overcome by Luiza Monteiro, by 6-4.

Ready for Abu Dhabi, during the WPJJC on April 13 and 14, she spoke to GRACIEMAG and analyzed the defeat in the final, talked about the 50/50 guard and explained how to win a six-minute fight: “It is strength all the time.”

GracieMag: How do you rate your performance in Pan and the defeats against Gabi Garcia and Luiza Monteiro?

MACKENZIE DERN:  My campaign in Pan was not the worst. In the absolute, I submitted Talita from the back and lost the semifinal to Gabi Garcia by submission, but I was third in the absolute. In my category, I proceeded straight to the final because my first opponent didn’t show up, and lost in the final to Luiza at the last minute.

Where did you go wrong?

There were wrong things in the fight. I learned that even wanting to attack and making a forward game, the opponent can still restrain the fight. I was wrong because I didn’t expect this. I thought there was some irregular moves in my fight on 50/50 guard, and also the fight got pretty ugly (laughs), but I know that each one has a strategy to win, and that’s valid. It is always a pleasure to fight with Luiza, an experienced and very tough black belt. I think I lost by my own technical error after all: I shouldn’t have attacked for a submission when I was winning, so few seconds to end the fight. But it was an error of a new black belt (laughs).

How was the training for WPJJC?

The training was great. With the help of my father Megaton, my boyfriend Augusto Tanquinho and all the guys, my game is evolving. I kept my fitness workout because you can’t rest in a six-minute fight; it is strength all the time (laughs)! I train about six hours a day. I do my Jiu-Jitsu training, my physical preparation and I’m teaching a class exclusively for women and I end up training and do drills with the whole class.

Are there any positions that you are training extensively?

Yes, how to get out of the 50/50 guard. Actually, I’m training to take over the space and make a fairer game. I want to lose less positions as possible.

Who can hinder your way to gold in Abu Dhabi?

I know there are several tough girls that will give me a lot of work. There are Michelle Nicolini, Jessica Cristina and Nadia Melo. They will be there for real, but anyone has the chance of winning. It will be a great championship.

Mackenzie at the 2012 Pan Photo: Mike Calimbras.

Jiu-Jitsu world champion from blue to brown belt, Mackenzie Dern, 19, is taming her anxiety for her second IBJJF tournament as a black belt. The star of Gracie Humaita has confirmed for the featherweight bracket, the most crowded and contested category among women at Pan 2013, which takes place on March 20 through 24. In an interview with GracieMag.com, Dern spoke of her preparation, the will to fight back with Luiza Monteiro and even commented on the possible duels with teammates. Check it out.

GracieMag: What is your expectation to fight at the Pan as a black belt?

MACKENZIE DERN: I’m feeling good. In my head, the Pan is a warm-up for the Worlds. I still have a lot of training to do until the end of May, but we’ll see! I will try for first place. I’m training in Arizona at my father Megaton’s gym with the guys from here. I didn’t do a camp for the Pan, only my physical training and my regular practice here. If I got where I am today, it was with their help, so I’m always confident when training with them. I also had the opportunity to have my friend and great fighter Angelica Galvão during a weekend here, which helped me a lot!

We will see a Mackenzie more concerned with the scoreboard, now as a black belt?

No, I always want to go for the submission! I have nothing to lose in my first year as a black belt, so if I am supposed to lose, I’d rather lose knowing that I tried everything I could. I’ll try to be one step ahead in fights. I know it still lack a bit for me to be a mature black belt. I’m gaining experience, but I still lack maturity in comparison to all these black belts. What I find amazing is how people still learn a lot after the black belt. I’m evolving, and the crowd can expect good fights.

Irvine is already your home since you fought a lot of Pans there. That helps, right?

I think it will always be; what changes is the head. At black belt, you can’t have a bad head or get stuck in the fight. You need to chase away the fear and apply the best positions. And do not make mistakes! I’m not doing anything different than I usually do. I’m training, correcting, learning, progressing, doing my physical preparation like I did in other belts. My dad always says that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it (laughs).

You will try the absolute too, as usual. What do you expect to find in the open with teammates such as Bia Mesquita and Carol Lebre. Will there be a fight?

I’ll always fight! I can easily fight and leave what happens on the mat there. This is my job and I have to be professional. The important thing is getting the points for our team, Gracie Humaita. The ideal outcome for the team would be if we meet only in the final. Bia and Carol are very technical and each has their own game, then they would be tough fights for me. We trained together quite a lot in the past, so we know each other’s games. They both (like many black belts today) are very talented. You can expect great fights, even among us.

How do you assess the featherweight and a possible rematch with Luiza Monteiro?

My category is the fullest in female black belt. There are five girls in it, all tough ones. Now imagine how it will be the draw for the World Championship? Only big names! I see this new meeting with Luiza as a hard and good for the audience. Unlike the Copa Podio, now it will be ten minutes. She is a very cool and hard girl, who also makes beautiful fights. It will always be a pleasure to fight with her.