UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern says playing poker has helped her become calmer, more patient and tactically disciplined in fights. She believes the change has contributed to her recent three-fight winning run and her title victory over Virna Jandiroba last October, after earlier setbacks were caused partly by fighting too emotionally.

Dern, 33, won six of her first seven UFC bouts after debuting in 2018, but then lost four of her next six before changing her approach in 2024. She will defend her title against Canada’s Gillian Robertson at UFC 330 in Philadelphia on Saturday; the event’s main fight sees Islam Makhachev defend his welterweight belt against Ireland’s Ian Machado Garry. The article notes poker’s gambling risks, citing a 2018 Australian study in which 39% of surveyed regular poker players reported moderate to severe gambling problems.