Jason Parillo, the head coach of Mackenzie Dern, asserts that a fight against Zhang Weili is essential for Dern, who currently holds the UFC women's strawweight title. Dern, with a record of 16-5 in MMA and 11-5 in the UFC, is on a three-fight winning streak, having recently defeated Virna Jandirova to claim the championship. Parillo acknowledges Weili as a significant challenge, despite her recent loss to Valentina Shevchenko in November while competing at 125 pounds. Parillo stated, "We should worry about everybody, especially in this division; everyone is razor close," emphasizing the competitiveness of the strawweight division. Dern is actively training and preparing for her first title defense, with Parillo expressing confidence in her mindset and preparation. The coach believes that a fight with Weili would be ideal given their current situation, as both coach and fighter are eager to take on the challenge.