Mackenzie Dern is a highly skilled American mixed martial artist and practitioner of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Renowned for her ferocity and determination in the octagon, she is a former world No. 1 ranked IBJJF competitor, and is currently ranked 6th among the female divisions. She is an ADCC and no-gi BJJ (black belt) World Champion. As of late 2022, she was named #7 in the UFC women’s strawweight rankings.

From humble beginnings in Phoenix, Arizona, Dern is the daughter of Wellington “Megaton” Dias, a well-known grappling competitor. Mackenzie began training in martial arts at the age of three and was already competing at a young age, before moving up to the adult divisions at just 14. By the time she had graduated from high school, she had won a world championship in every belt level as she progressed to black belt rank. In her professional mixed martial arts career, Dern has fought for several reputable organizations, including Legacy Fighting Alliance and Invicta Fighting Championship. She made her highly anticipated UFC debut in March 2018, against Ashley Yoder, winning the fight via split decision. Since then, she has risen through the ranks and achieved a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, with 7 of her victories coming via submission. Her notable victories include bouts against Gabi Garcia, Amanda Cooper and Virna Jandiroba; she also won the UFC’s Performance of the Night award on three occasions.

Best known for her unbelievable grappling skills, Dern was actually the first woman to finish a fight by any form of leg lock in UFC history! Dern’s career in MMA continues to thrive, and she remains a formidable force in the sport. She takes great pride in connecting with her legions of fans on her social media.