Season 3 of the Celeb Poker Tour kicked off in type, bringing collectively a novel mixture of athletes, entertainers, and poker personalities for a high-stakes evening on the tables. However whereas chips have been flying in Las Vegas, it wasn’t simply the motion on the felt that stole consideration.
Amongst these in attendance was Mackenzie Dern, the reigning UFC ladies’s strawweight champion, who continues to broaden her presence past the Octagon. An everyday on the CPT circuit, Dern additionally made an look on the 2025 World Sequence of Poker.
This time, nonetheless, it wasn’t poker that made headlines, it was what she stated about her subsequent combat.
A Champion in Transition
Dern captured the vacant strawweight title at UFC 321 with a unanimous choice victory over Virna Jandiroba. The belt grew to become accessible after former champion Zhang Weili moved as much as flyweight to problem Valentina Shevchenko.
With Weili arising quick in that superfight, expectations shortly shifted towards a showdown with Dern upon her return to 115 kilos.
As an alternative, Dern could have revealed a really completely different path.
Gillian Robertson Up Subsequent?
When requested about her subsequent combat in the course of the Celeb Poker Tour occasion, Dern instantly pointed to a reputation few have been anticipating:
“They’re sort of speaking about giving me Gillian Robertson from Canada.”
She adopted that up by acknowledging that nothing has been formally finalized, whereas nonetheless making it clear she’s getting ready for a summer time return.
“I don’t even know who I’m preventing, I’m ready for whoever comes, and including issues to my recreation every time I combat.”
“However I don’t even know precisely who I’m going to combat but, however pondering June or July.”
Whereas Dern stopped in need of confirming the matchup outright, her feedback strongly level to Robertson because the main choice for her first title protection — a notable shift from the extensively anticipated conflict with Zhang Weili.
A Darkish Horse Title Challenger
Robertson, presently ranked No. 5, has quietly emerged as one of many division’s most in-form contenders. The Canadian grappling specialist is using a five-fight win streak, most not too long ago defeating Amanda Lemos by way of unanimous choice final week on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas.
Dern didn’t formally announce her subsequent combat, however she could have stated sufficient.
With Robertson now firmly within the combine and a June or July return focused, the UFC straw-weight division immediately appears far much less predictable than it did simply weeks in the past.
PokerNews doesn’t have details about why Zhang Weili shouldn’t be being lined up for the title right now.
Dern Appears for Gold in Prague
Dern, who performed within the 2025 WSOP, says she will be able to see herself taking part in extra poker sooner or later.
“I’m undoubtedly pondering of taking this profession path once I cease preventing,” she stated.
Whereas Dern could also be busy with a possible title protection this summer time, she confirmed she’s going to nonetheless be taking part in some WSOP occasions.
“I’m going to Prague for the WSOP. I’m going to be taking part in within the Women Occasion,” she added.
MMA Fighter and Leisure Poker Participant Mackenzie Dern Wins UFC Strawweight Title
