UFC champion Dern says poker patience helps her fighting

Mackenzie Dern, the UFC champion, attributes her growth as a fighter to her newfound interest in no-limit Texas hold'em poker. After a series of defeats early in her career, Dern began playing the card game outside of training camps. This shift in her social life coincided with her improved performance in the octagon. Poker has taught her to control her emotions, extract value, and read her opponents - all crucial skills that have translated to her fighting career.

Dern, who had a tendency to become emotional during fights, has used poker to adopt a calmer mindset. The Xfinity Mobile Arena will host her co-main event against Gillian Robertson, where we may see the fruits of her poker-inspired mental transformation.