Reigning UFC strawweight champion Mackenzie Dern and former featherweight title challenger Brian Ortega made a short but attention-grabbing cameo at the 83rd Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles on January 11, 2026.
Their appearance came moments before Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie took the stage to present the award for Best Supporting TV Actress, which was won by Erin Doherty for Adolescence.
The surprise segment was introduced by announcer Marc Malkin, who joked, “Our next presenters are so hot they get mobbed everywhere they go … so we had to bring in some extra security … from the UFC!”
Wearing UFC-branded gear, Dern and Ortega walked onto the stage, shared a quick nod, and exited just as swiftly, wrapping up their cameo in under 30 seconds.
The cameo was part of Paramount’s broader promotional strategy following its landmark seven-year, $7.7 billion media rights agreement with TKO Group Holdings. Under the deal, Paramount+ will become the exclusive U.S. home for UFC events beginning in 2026, with select marquee cards also airing on CBS.
Related: Wayne Rooney Overcome With Emotion As Brother John Guides Macclesfield To Stunning FA Cup Upset
The agreement brings an end to UFC’s long-standing broadcast partnership with ESPN and signals a shift away from the traditional pay-per-view model.
Reaction to the segment was mixed across social media. Some viewers felt the moment was awkward or out of place within the awards show, while others praised it as a bold, attention-grabbing attempt to bridge the worlds of sports and entertainment.
Zhang Weili’s Return to Strawweight Points Toward Mackenzie Dern Matchup
Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili appears poised to return to the 115lbs division following a challenging stint at flyweight. Zhang challenged Valentina Shevchenko in November 2025 at UFC 322 for gold but struggled with the size and strength of her opponent, ultimately falling short in her bid to claim a second title.
With Zhang out of the division, Mackenzie Dern captured the vacant strawweight championship at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, positioning her as the most logical next opponent for Zhang.
In an interview with MMA Fighting, Zhang’s coach, John Wood, explained the potential matchup:
“There’s obviously a clear-cut path to go back and take that title from Mackenzie. No disrespect to Mackenzie. That’s Weili’s belt. A lot of people are looking at that, and obviously, that’s the fight to make. We’ll see what she wants to do.”
In Case You Missed: Taylor Swift Surprises Haim Sisters And Sombr With Homemade Sourdough After L.A. Dinner
A potential clash between Zhang Weili and Mackenzie Dern carries not only clear sporting logic but also major promotional appeal, with fans eagerly anticipating Zhang’s return to her original weight class.
UFC officials are expected to closely monitor developments and determine the optimal timing for the matchup once Zhang officially confirms her strawweight comeback.
