Dern dropped a unanimous decision to Marina Rodriguez in the UFC Fight Night 194 main event at the UFC Apex on Saturday night, ending her four-bout Octagon winning streak. Dern had Rodriguez in trouble after dragging her to the mat in Round 2, as she threatened with a leg lock, landed ground-and-pound from the reverse crucifix position and took her opponent’s back. Rodriguez was able to survive, however, and spent the majority of the contest outclassing Dern on the feet.
“Yesterday wasn’t the result I was training for, but this fight is the biggest learning experience for me,” Dern wrote on Instagram. “Now I have a lot to look back on and fix to become a better fighter! For sure a submission would have been great but to have these rounds for me to work on is such a blessing.”
The 28-year-old Dern was coming off a streak in which she bested Hannah Cifers, Randa Markos, Virna Jandiroba and Nina Nunes in succession. The RVCA product is 6-2 in the UFC and 11-2 as a professional overall.