Dern, one of the greatest competitors in women’s jiu-jitsu history, successfully debuted in the UFC on Saturday night, defeating Ashley Yoder via split decision at UFC 222. After years of competition in high level jiu-jitsu, Dern says she didn’t feel that nervous entering the Octagon for the first time.
”I swear, it felt so normal. I was so relaxed,” Dern told Ariel Helwani on Monday’s edition of The MMA Hour. “I didn’t even hear people [screaming]. I felt Bruce (Buffer) was talking to me, when he was saying my name, but I was just looking at Ashley, trying to focus on what I wanted to do.