Fighters » Mackenzie Dern
Mackenzie Dern is an American-Brazilian professional mixed martial artist known as one of the most accomplished grapplers in women’s MMA. Here is a short bio of her career and a look at some of her most notable fights.
Mackenzie Dern is the daughter of renowned BJJ practitioner Wellington “Megaton” Dias and began training at just three years old . She was promoted to black belt by her father before her 20th birthday and is considered one of the most successful female grapplers of her generation before transitioning to MMA . She is fluent in both English and Portuguese, and often thinks about fighting in Portuguese .
Notable Fights
Dern has several impressive victories in the UFC, many showcasing her elite submission skills.
- vs. Hannah Cifers (2020) – UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns: Dern made history by becoming the first woman in the UFC to win a fight via kneebar submission .
- vs. Randa Markos (2020) – UFC Fight Night: Covington vs. Woodley: In a dominant grappling performance, Dern quickly submitted Markos with an armbar in the first round .
- vs. Nina Nunes (2021) – UFC on ABC 2: Dern secured another first-round armbar victory, earning a Performance of the Night bonus .
- vs. Gabi Garcia (2015) – World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship: While not an MMA fight, this is one of Dern’s most famous grappling achievements. She defeated the much heavier and legendary Gabi Garcia via points in a superfight, a massive upset in the BJJ world .
Mackenzie Dern remains a ranked contender in the UFC’s competitive strawweight division.
Mackenzie Dern is part of list "Badass Beauties: Top Fighters in the Game"
