Mackenzie Stiller, USA, 6-1
Pros:
-Excellent judo
-Physically strong
-Submission threat/Armlock specialist
-Scrambles well
Cons:
-Naked kicks/No setups
-Smooth transitions/passes
-Doesn’t respond well to punches
-Advances in straight lines
-50/50 throws/positions
It’s no surprise to see Stiller on this season, given the run she’s been on. After losing to Sumiko Inaba in Bellator in 2024, she’s won her next three fights. Stiller has finished all but one of her victories, with all five of those finishes coming by submission. Her wins have come against credible opponents, which is something I can’t say for everyone else in the house.
Stiller is easily the most one-dimensional fighter among the strawweights. Her striking is messy. Her footwork is poor, and there’s very little threat in what she throws. She kicks a lot, but they aren’t set up well and often leave her chin exposed.
To win, Stiller has to get takedowns, but the way she gets them can be volatile. At times, she’ll rush forward into a body lock and look for an outside trip. Everyone knows what to prepare for with Stiller, and that’s her judo throws. It’s a very 50/50 style of takedown attempt, but Stiller is about as close to a specialist as you’ll find in this field. The problem is she’s going to be using those throws against some legitimate grapplers in the house. If she’s off by even a little bit on an entry or takedown attempt, she’s going to have her back taken.
If Stiller can secure the top position, she’s a force. She constantly forces submission opportunities and is always hunting finishes. She loves the scarf-hold armlock off her judo throws and is nasty with armlocks in general, attacking them from all sorts of positions and capitalizing on opponents’ mistakes. It’s not just armlocks either, as she picked up a nasty bulldog choke submission last year.
If Stiller had even a little more striking ability, her chances of winning the show would be much higher. As it stands, she’s going to be facing superior strikers who can pick her apart at range and land big shots as she closes distance. Judo only takes you so far in MMA, and not having a traditional wrestling game really hurts her chances.
