UFC Champ Mackenzie Dern Reveals Her “Playing Dumb” Strategy in Poker
Mackenzie Dern, the newly crowned UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, recently shared her approach to reading opponents at the poker table during an interview with Helen Yee at the Celebrity Poker Tour in Las Vegas. Fresh off her title win at UFC 321 in October 2025, Dern explained how she leverages gender psychological tactics to gain advantages in both poker and fighting.
UFC Star Mackenzie Dern Reveals Her Poker Table Secret Weapon
Speaking to Yee, Dern revealed that simply being a woman at the poker table immediately creates misconceptions among her opponents. According to her, many male players automatically assume female players lack experience or skill, which provides an immediate edge before any cards are even dealt. She explained:
“I think the secret to having a good poker face, for me, is that just being a girl already helps because no one thinks you know how to play. That right there already helps so much. And then there’s the whole ‘playing dumb’ thing – like, I don’t know how many blinds there are, I’m just smiling. People underestimate you, and that works in poker and in fighting.”
Dern explained the value of the “playing dumb” approach, where she acts unfamiliar with basic poker concepts like blind amounts and betting structures. “I don’t know how many blinds,” she said with a smile, allowing opponents to underestimate her tactical awareness. People tend to take fewer precautions against opponents they believe don’t understand the game, which creates openings for stronger players to exploit.
This past week with the Celebrity Poker Tour, she earned fifth place.
Dern, who started playing poker about a year and a half ago, emphasized that this psychological component applies directly to her fighting career as well. She’s participated in multiple Celebrity Poker Tour events and considers herself approximately a “purple belt” in poker skill level.
Dern described how poker has helped her manage the emotional intensity that often derails her performance in the Octagon. She explained that during fights, she tends to become emotionally reactive, wanting to return punches tenfold after getting hit, which causes her fighting strategy to fall apart.
Since beginning poker seriously about eighteen months ago, Dern has won fights against Lupita Ibarra, Amanda Ribas, and eventually secured her title shot against Virna Jandiroba. She attributes part of this winning streak to lessons learned at the poker table, where emotion management and strategic patience are essential.
