Dern defends strawweight title, beats Robertson at UFC 330

Mackenzie Dern successfully defended her UFC strawweight championship for the first time, defeating challenger Gillian Robertson by unanimous decision in the co-main event of UFC 330 on Saturday night at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. The judges scored the bout 49-46, 49-46, and 48-47, all in favor of Dern.

Dern showcased her well-rounded skills, dominating the first round with a near-finish via rear-naked choke that Robertson survived only as the horn sounded. The champion controlled the majority of the grappling exchanges and out-struck Robertson in the opening frames. Robertson found some success in the third round and controlled the entire fifth round from the top position, but she was unable to secure a decisive finish to overcome the deficit on the scorecards.

The victory marked Dern's first defense of the title she captured in October 2025 by defeating Virna Jandiroba for the vacant belt. The championship had been vacated by former long-time ruler Zhang Weili, who moved up to flyweight. After Dern's win, the focus immediately shifted to a potential showdown with Zhang, who has not fought since her loss in that flyweight title attempt in November 2025.