In a moment that left many UFC enthusiasts uncomfortable, a press conference ahead of UFC 321 took an awkward turn when Mackenzie Dern faced what fans are describing as an inappropriate line of questioning.
Dern, currently ranked No. 5 in the strawweight division, is preparing for a significant championship opportunity against No. 1 contender Virna Jandiroba this weekend. However, instead of focusing on fight strategy or preparation, one reporter’s question diverted attention in a direction many found unprofessional.
“UFC fans like you not just for your aggressive nature and your fighting style in the Octagon, but also your good looks,” the reporter began before asking, “So the question is how many times a week do you squat and what’s your squatting weight?”
The question, which appeared to focus more on Dern’s physical appearance than her athletic accomplishments, prompted immediate reaction on social media platforms, with many condemning the reporter’s approach.
Dern, displaying professional composure despite the awkward situation, managed to laugh off the question before providing a straightforward response: “Every single day I squat, a lot of repetitions… I work a lot.”
Observers noted that she appeared caught off guard, turning to give a thumbs up to someone in the audience.
The online response was swift and critical. One social media user wrote, “Sometimes reporters forget the cameras are rolling and millions are watching.”
Another commented that the question seemed inappropriate for a fighter UFC star for a championship opportunity.
The 32-year-old Dern brings a 15-5 professional record into her upcoming title bout against Jandiroba. Interestingly, this isn’t the first meeting between the two competitors – Dern previously defeated Jandiroba by unanimous decision at UFC 256 in December 2020.
This championship bout carries significant stakes as the winner will claim the strawweight title recently vacated by Zhang Weili following her move to the flyweight division.
