UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern recently announced that she is expecting her first child, with that baby due in just a few months.
Dern not only wants to be back in the Octagon by later this year, but wants to be the first mother to hold a UFC title.
?The first mother? No mother ever did it? I didn?t even know that,? Dern said to MMA Fighting. ?I have another goal now: be the first mother to win a championship belt in the UFC.?
Other UFC stars such as Julianna Pena and Alexis Davis have had children while under the UFC, but none have won gold since becoming mothers.
An expecting Dern also said that she lost followers on social media once the pregnancy was announced.
?Many people say ?she?s lucky because she?s pretty and the UFC likes her, gives her easy fights, and she can do whatever she wants,? but it?s not like that. My fans? Actually, I lost many fans when I posted a picture with my husband announcing the pregnancy. But I like that it?s changing a bit. It?s no longer those fans that are looking a pretty girl fighting, but fans that really cheer for you during your daily battles and like you for what you do. That?s really cool. That really is motivating,? says Dern.
The mother to be is 2-0-0 under the UFC banner (7-0-0 overall), with those wins coming over Amanda Bobby Cooper and Ashley Yoder.