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United States Mackenzie Dern is a distinguished mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner known for her exceptional submission skills within the UFC's women's Strawweight division.
Mackenzie Dern collaborated with Full Violence for a special collection release, ahead of her first UFC title shot.
UFC star Mackenzie Dern collaborated with Emmy Awards winner, Bob Odenkirk, from 'Better Call Saul'.
UFC fighter Mackenzie Dern signed a partnership agreement with leading Latin American online betting operator Betmotion.
CSA facilitated a 5-year partnership between Love Hemp and UFC, providing the CBD brand with multiple branded opportunities.
Mackenzie Dern promoted the MODA COLLECTION for Santo Studios, which was exclusively available at Nordstrom.
Mackenzie Lynne Dern was born on March 24, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona, and developed a strong foundation in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu from an early age, training with her father, renowned grappling competitor Megaton Dias. She began competing in adult divisions at 14 and achieved significant success, including world championships at every belt level. Her progression culminated in receiving her black belt in December 2012, prior to her 20th birthday. Dern holds multiple medals in prestigious BJJ competitions, including ADCC World Championship gold in 2015 and numerous gold medals across IBJJF Gi Championships, making her a highly decorated athlete in professional grappling.
Dern transitioned to mixed martial arts professionally in 2016, making her debut at Legacy FC 58 where she secured a unanimous decision victory. Her early MMA career saw her achieve an undefeated 4-0 record before signing with Invicta Fighting Championship in November 2017. She continued her winning streak in Invicta FC, submitting Kaline Medeiros in the third round of her debut. In March 2018, Dern made her UFC debut at UFC 222, earning a split decision win against Ashley Yoder. A significant milestone in her UFC career came on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns, where she secured a first-round kneebar submission against Hannah Cifers, becoming the first woman in UFC history to win via leg lock. This achievement earned her the first of four ‘Performance of the Night’ awards.
Throughout her UFC tenure, Dern has consistently showcased her grappling prowess, accumulating eight wins by submission. She holds the record for most submission wins and attempts in the UFC Women’s Strawweight division. Notable victories include submissions over Randa Markos (2020) and Nina Nunes (2021). Despite facing setbacks, such as unanimous decision losses to Amanda Ribas (2019) and Marina Rodriguez (2021), Dern has demonstrated resilience and skill, earning three ‘Fight of the Night’ bonuses for her engaging bouts, including against Angela Hill (2023) and Amanda Lemos (2024). She is currently ranked No. 5 in the UFC women’s strawweight division and is scheduled to compete for the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship at UFC 321 in October 2025.
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