Report - Mackenzie Dern vs. Marina Rodriguez Targeted To Headline UFC Event On October 9th.

Mandatory Credit: Chris Unger - Zuffa LLC

A pivotal strawweight showdown between streaking contenders, Mackenzie Dern and Marina Rodriguez is in the works to headline a UFC Fight Night event on October 9th. -- with a location or venue for the event yet to be determined by the organization as of writing. 

In the midst of a four-fight winning run, Phoenix-born contender, Dern featured at UFC on ABC 2 in April, stopping the returning Nina Nunes via an opening round armbar. The victory propelled the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu maestro to the #5 rank in the official strawweight pile.

Headlining just two weeks ago at UFC Vegas 26, Rio Grande do Sol native Rodriguez managed a unanimous decision victory over veteran strawweight contender, Michelle Waterson in a short notice flyweight main event clash. News of the targeted bout was first reported by ESPN MMA reporter, Brett Okamoto.

Moving to 6-1 in the UFC and 11-1 overall with her submission success over Nunes, five-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion and a three-time World Cup victor, Dern turned in her fourth submission win in the UFC against Nunes, tying her for the most in the history of the promotion's strawweight division.

Prior to the win over Nunes, the 28-year-old, who has taken her talents to the head coaching of Jason Parillo, bested Virna Jandiroba, Randa Markos, Hannah Cifers, Amanda Cooper, and Ashley Yoder during her Octagon run -- with her sole blemish coming opposite Amanda Ribas. 

Rodriguez, 34, is a product of Dana White's Contender Series -- penning a deal with the organization following a first round knockout win over Maria de Oliveira Neta back in April of 2018. 

Prior to her win over Waterson, the Brazilian returned from her first professional loss against common-opposition, Ribas on 'Fight Island' in January at UFC 257 -- managing an eventual second round knockout. Her sole Octagon and professional loss came in the form of a close, razor-thin split decision defeat to inaugural UFC and Invicta FC strawweight best, Carla Esparza last July, also in Abu Dhabi, UAE.