UFC strawweight Mackenzie Dern revealed that athletic commission officials questioned her ability to compete when she requested to bring her service dog to the octagon for her recent outing against Amanda Ribas at UFC Apex.
During an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show following her submission victory, Dern discussed attempting to get permission for her 130-pound service dog Mac to accompany her during her walkout.
“I think what I’m most needing in my fights is composure,” Dern explained previously, emphasizing how Mac helps her stay relaxed and prevents her nerves from escalating.
“Yeah, I did [ask],” Dern said. “But the commission, they’re all like ‘Oh, you shouldn’t be fighting if you have an emotional support dog.'”
Dern clarified that while Mac provides emotional support, he primarily serves as a guard dog and isn’t officially registered as an emotional support animal. “He’s not really obviously like a real emotional support dog. He’s other things,” she explained.
The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist detailed how having Mac around helps her maintain composure and recreate a familiar environment during preparation. She emphasized that the dog’s presence assists her in staying calm and seeing everything clearly during fights rather than getting overwhelmed by adrenaline.
Despite the commission’s stance, Mac has been a regular presence during Dern’s media weeks. The year-and-a-half-old dog traveled with her to Las Vegas for the bout, though he had to remain backstage during the actual event. Dern noted that Mac regularly accompanies her on flights, requiring his own seat due to his large size.
Dern went on to win the fight against Ribas via first-round armbar, securing her second consecutive victory and seventh performance bonus in the UFC. The win demonstrated her continued evolution as a mixed martial artist, regardless of the commission’s concerns about her use of a service dog for support.
