Mackenzie Dern Signs With Invicta

http://mmasucka.com/2017/11/14/mackenzie-dern-signs-invicta-fc/


Dern signs to Invicta FC, will fight Kaline Medeiros on Dec. 8.

What do you all think of the signing and fight?

I think many have been excited since Dern made her MMA debut. She has crazy good credentials when it comes to her submission game. We will just have to see how she does as her competition gets tougher and as she moves on to higher level competition. She does have trouble making 115 though and it is questionable she can stay there long term. That being said I do think Kaline is a pretty safe opponent in that she isn't a big finisher. I expect a fast path to the Invicta title and UFC provided she figures out her weight issues.  

Surprised, kind of thought she might just go straight to the UFC. May be better for her career though. And she needs to go to 125 IMO. Also this is shaping up to be one of the better Invicta cards in a while.

* Edited at 11.14.2017, 7:56 PM ET *

Love the fact she finally signed on with Invicta.  I agree she's probably going to plow through the competition, I wouldn't be surprised if she has a quick crossover to UFC much like Aspen Ladd.  Either way I'm stoked to see her show her skills and for one of my favorites, Invicta FC. I mean its kinda like an early Christmas present.

I personally think it's a great signing and wasn't expecting it, but it makes a ton of sense. It would have been bad for Dern to go straight to the UFC. That's like jumping into the fire where there's very little breathing room to develop as a prospect. 

Dern's got a few things on her checklist before signing with the UFC:

- Continue developing standup and wrestling
- Figure out what weight class she wants to compete at longterm 
- Beat progressively better fighters 

That may take 3-5 fights, and Dern should take it. She'll have a lot of eyes on her in Invicta that she didn't have in Legacy, and it's a great place to develop.

"- Figure out what weight class she wants to compete at longterm"

Mainly this^

She bloats between camps and cuts a lot to make 115. I think she can do it pretty easily, but that would mean she'd need to be more dedicated. Not sure she has that in her and tbh, I don't think she really needs to. The 125 division is still wide open and by no means will she have a significant strength disadvantage against most of the top 125ers (she grappled and beat Gabi Garcia, ffs).

This signing also kind of shows her end game. I find it hard to believe Bellator weren't in the race to get her but she knows Invicta >> UFC is way more fluid a route than Bellator >> UFC. Also, signing with Invicta keeps the 115lbs door open.

I would love for her to climb up to win an Invicta belt and give them some of her star power before going to the UFC. Hope they don't just grab her after her first two wins. Invicta still has great fighters and fights but is seriously lacking stars.

* Edited at 11.16.2017, 2:44 AM ET *

I completely agree with everyone about this being a very good step for Dern. I was concerned as well that she'd just jump straight to the UFC, and I wasn't sure long term over the next year or so if that would go real well for her.  Invicta is the perfect place for her continued development and it will be fun to watch that as well.