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Mackenzie Dern
Quick Facts
Biography
Mackenzie Lynne Dern (born March 24, 1993) is an American professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She is a former world No. 1 ranked IBJJF competitor, currently ranked 6th among the female divisions. She is an ADCC and no gi BJJ (black belt) World Champion.
Early life
Of Brazilian descent, Dern was born in Arizona, the daughter of Wellington "Megaton" Dias, a highly decorated grappling competitor himself. As a child, she grew up travelling back and forth between Arizona and her father's native Brazil. Dern is fluent in English and Portuguese. She has stated that Portuguese has become her primary tongue, explaining that "my Dad and step Mom are both Brazilian. My boyfriend speaks Portuguese. I'm speaking Portuguese more than English. I still have lots of interactions in English of course. But I think in Portuguese, anything to do with fight is all in Portuguese in my mind, I dream in Portuguese."
Dern began training by the age of three and practicing with her father and stepmother who is also a black belt, Luciana Tavares. Mackenzie started competing at a young age, and began competing in the adult divisions at 14 years old. She has won a world championship in every belt level as she progressed to black belt rank, which was awarded to her by her father in December 2012, three months prior to her 20th birthday. She graduated from Ironwood High School in Glendale, Arizona.
Due to her six 1st place finishes at the Asian Open, Mackenzie is the only female Jiu-Jitsu competitor to have won Gold Medals, at Black Belt level, at each of the 5 principal/highest ranking IBJJF Gi Championships - the other events are the Worlds, the Euros, the Pan Ams and the Brazilian Nationals.
Mixed martial arts
Early career
Dern fought under Legacy Fighting Alliance with a record of 4-0 prior to signing with Invicta Fighting Championship (Invicta) in November 2017.
Invicta Fighting Championship
Dern made her Invicta debut on December 8, 2017, at Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedzwiedz against Kaline Medeiros. She won the fight via an armbar in round three.
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Dern made her promotional debut against Ashley Yoder on March 3, 2018, at UFC 222. She won the fight via split decision.
Dern faced Amanda Cooper on May 12, 2018 at UFC 224. At the weigh-ins, Dern weighed in at 123 pounds, 7 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight upper limit of 116 pounds. As a result, the bout proceeded at catchweight and Dern was fined 30% of her purse. Dern won the fight via submission through a rear naked choke in the first round.
After a hiatus from maternity leave, Dern faced Amanda Ribas on October 12, 2019 at UFC on ESPN+ 19. She lost the fight via unanimous decision.
Dern was expected to face Ariane Carnelossi on April 25, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 173. Carnelossi was forced to withdraw from the bout due to travel restriction.
Dern was scheduled to face Hannah Ciferson April 25, 2020 at UFC Fight Night 173. However, on April 9 the promotion announced that this event was postponed. The pairing eventually took place on May 30, 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns. Dern won the fight with a first round kneebar - becoming the first womanto finish a fight by any form of leg lock in UFC history. This win also earned her her first Performance of the Night award.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts
- Ultimate Fighting Championship
- Performance of the Night (One time) vs. Hannah Cifers
Personal life
Dern is married to professional surfer Wesley Santos.
In February 2019, Dern announced that she had put her MMA career on hold due to pregnancy. Her daughter, Moa, was born on June 9, 2019.
Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown | ||
9 matches | 8 wins | 1 loss |
By submission | 5 | 0 |
By decision | 3 | 1 |
Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Win | 8–1 | Hannah Cifers | Submission (kneebar) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 1 | 2:36 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Performance of the Night. |
Loss | 7–1 | Amanda Ribas | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Joanna vs. Waterson | October 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Tampa, Florida, United States | |
Win | 7–0 | Amanda Cooper | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC 224 | May 12, 2018 | 1 | 2:27 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Catchweight (123 lbs) bout; Dern missed weight. |
Win | 6–0 | Ashley Yoder | Decision (split) | UFC 222 | March 3, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
Win | 5–0 | Kaline Medeiros | Submission (armbar) | Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedzwiedz | December 8, 2017 | 3 | 4:45 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | Return to Strawweight. Performance of the Night. |
Win | 4–0 | Mandy Polk | Submission (rear-naked choke) | LFA 24 | October 13, 2017 | 1 | 2:55 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | Flyweight debut. |
Win | 3–0 | Katherine Roy | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 6 | March 10, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | Catchweight (120 lbs) bout; Dern missed weight. |
Win | 2–0 | Montana De La Rosa | Submission (Imanari choke) | Legacy FC 61 | October 14, 2016 | 1 | 3:25 | Dallas, Texas, United States | Catchweight (118.8 lbs) bout; Dern missed weight. |
Win | 1–0 | Kenia Rosas | Decision (unanimous) | Legacy FC 58 | July 22, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Strawweight debut. |
Grappling record
Records as per BJJHeroes website.
Rec. | Result | Opponent | Method | Event | Division | Stage | Gi | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Loss | 75-25-1 | Elvira Karppinen | Pts: 4x2 | ADCC | 60+KG | 4F | No Gi | 2017 |
Loss | 75-24-1 | Venla Luukkonen | Pts: 5x0 | World Champ. | ABS | 8F | Gi | 2017 |
Loss | 75-23-1 | Beatriz Mesquita | Choke from back | Rio Fall Open | ABS | F | Gi | 2017 |
Win | 75-22-1 | Katherine Jesus | Points | Rio Fall Open | ABS | SF | Gi | 2017 |
Win | 74-22-1 | Pati Fontes | Cross choke | F2W 25 | N/A | SPF | Gi | 2017 |
Win | 73-22-1 | Emily Thylin | Referee Decision | European Open | 58KG | F | Gi | 2017 |
Win | 72-22-1 | Carolina Carriello | Bow and arrow | European Open | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2017 |
Loss | 71-22-1 | Tayane Porfirio | Pts: 5x2 | European Open | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2017 |
Win | 71-21-1 | Venla Luukkonen | Pts: 11x2 | European Open | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2017 |
Loss | 70-21-1 | Tayane Porfirio | Pts: 20x0 | South American | ABS | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 70-20-1 | Joaquina Bomfim | Adv | South American | ABS | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 69-20-1 | Barbara Gomes | Omoplata/Choke | South American | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 68-20-1 | Eloisa Souta | Scissor choke | South American | 64KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 67-20-1 | Megan Green | Kneebar | Grand Slam Tokyo | 70KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 66-20-1 | Megan Green | Kneebar | Grand Slam Tokyo | 70KG | RR | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 65-20-1 | Talita Alencar | Referee Decision | F2W Pro 12 | 88KG | SPF | Gi | 2016 |
Loss | 64-20-1 | Dominyka Obelenyte | Pts: 6x4 | World Champ. | ABS | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 64-19-1 | Fernanda Mazzelli | Referee Decision | World Champ. | ABS | 58KG | 4F | 2016 |
Win | 63-19-1 | Michelle Nicolini | Pts: 6x6, Adv | World Champ. | 58KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 62-19-1 | Karen Antunes | Referee Decision | World Champ. | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Loss | 61-19-1 | Andresa Correa | Pts: 2x0 | Brasileiro | ABS | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 61-18-1 | Fernanda Mazzelli | Points | Brasileiro | ABS | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 60-18-1 | Andresa Lidia | Choke from back | Brasileiro | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Loss | 59-18-1 | Tayane Porfirio | Pts: 5x2 | World Pro | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 59-17-1 | Anna Kavoura | Toe hold | World Pro | ABS | R1 | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 58-17-1 | Marina Ribeiro | Pts: 0x0, Adv | World Pro | 55KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 57-17-1 | Ariadne Oliveira | Pts: 5x0 | World Pro | 55KG | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 56-17-1 | Ana Alencar | Pts: 0x0, Adv | World Pro | 55KG | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Loss | 55-17-1 | Dominyka Obelenyte | Pts: 10x8 | Pan American | ABS | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 55-16-1 | Fernanda Mazzelli | Pts: 2x0 | Pan American | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 54-16-1 | Leah Taylor | Toe hold | Pan American | ABS | R1 | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 53-16-1 | Karen Antunes | Pts: 4x4, Adv | Pan American | 58KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 52-16-1 | Vianca Jager | Botinha | Pan American | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 51-16-1 | Rosie Snow | Armbar | F2W Pro 4 | ABS | SPF | Gi | 2016 |
Loss | 50-16-1 | Andresa Correa | Pts: 2x0 | European Open | ABS | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 50-15-1 | Olga Lyashevska | Toe hold | European Open | ABS | SF | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 49-15-1 | Venla Luukkonen | Omoplata | European Open | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 48-15-1 | Maria Dolores | Toe hold | European Open | ABS | R1 | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 47-15-1 | Yasmine Wilson | Toe hold | European Open | 58KG | F | Gi | 2016 |
Win | 46-15-1 | Andresa Correa | Marcelotine | NoGi Worlds | ABS | F | No Gi | 2015 |
Win | 45-15-1 | Emilie Thylin | Toe hold | NoGi Worlds | ABS | SF | No Gi | 2015 |
Win | 44-15-1 | Josephine Masiello | Armbar | NoGi Worlds | ABS | 4F | No Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 43-15-1 | Tammi Musumeci | Pts: 6x2 | NoGi Worlds | 56KG | F | No Gi | 2015 |
Win | 43-14-1 | Emilie Thylin | Kimura | NoGi Worlds | 56KG | SF | No Gi | 2015 |
Win | 42-14-1 | Isabelle Souza | Toe hold | Asian Open | ABS | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 41-14-1 | Leanna Dittrich | Toe hold | Asian Open | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 40-14-1 | Michelle Nicolini | Pts: 4x4, Pen | ADCC | 60KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 39-14-1 | Bia Mesquita | Referee Decision | ADCC | 60KG | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 38-14-1 | Kethe Engen | Toe hold | ADCC | 60KG | Gi | 2015 | |
Win | 37-14-1 | Karen Antunes | Toe hold | FIVE SL | ABS | 3RD | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 36-14-1 | Fabiana Borges | Kneebar | FIVE SL | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 35-14-1 | Tammi Musumeci | Choke from back | FIVE SL | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 34-14-1 | Dominyka Obelenyte | Points | World Champ. | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 34-13-1 | Ana Cordeiro | Armbar | World Champ. | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 33-13-1 | Luiza Monteiro | Pts: 8x0 | World Champ. | ABS | 8F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 32-13-1 | Michelle Nicolini | Choke from back | World Champ. | 58KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 31-13-1 | Tammi Musumeci | N/A | World Champ. | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 30-13-1 | Vanessa Oliveira | Pts: 6x0 | World Pro | ABS | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 29-13-1 | Gabrielle Garcia | Pts: 0x0, Pen | World Pro | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 28-13-1 | Jessica Cristina | Footlock | World Pro | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 27-13-1 | Nádia Melo | Toe hold | World Pro | ABS | R1 | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 26-13-1 | Michelle Nicolini | Pts: 2x0 | World Pro | 55KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 25-13-1 | Ariadne Oliveira | Points | World Pro | 55KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 24-13-1 | Gabrielle Garcia | Bread cutter | an American | ABS | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 24-12-1 | Tammy Griego | Kneebar | Pan American | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 23-12-1 | Megan Nevill | Referee Decision | Pan American | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 22-12-1 | Tammi Musumeci | Kneebar | Pan American | 58KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 21-12-1 | Chelsea Donner | Ezekiel | Pan American | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 20-12-1 | Michele Nicolini | Pts: 9x8 | European | 58KG | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 20-11-1 | Laurence Cousin | Toe hold | European | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 19-11-1 | Gabrielle Garcia | Clock choke | European | ABS | F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 19-10-1 | Dominyka Obelenyte | Referee Decision | European | ABS | SF | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 18-10-1 | Laurence Fouillat | Ezekiel | European | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2015 |
Win | 17-10-1 | Nicole Inacio | Armbar | US Nat. Pro | ABS | F | Gi | 2015 |
Loss | 16-10-1 | Ana Cordeiro | Kimura | Long Beach Pro | ABS | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 16-9-1 | Karen Antunes | Toe hold | No Gi Worlds | 56KG | F | No Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 15-9-1 | Gabrielle Garcia | Americana | No Gi Worlds | ABS | F | No Gi | 2014 |
Win | 15-8-1 | Leanna Dittrich | Pts: 3x0 | No Gi Worlds | ABS | SF | No Gi | 2014 |
Win | 14-8-1 | Nyjah Easton | Adv | No Gi Worlds | ABS | 4F | No Gi | 2014 |
Win | 13-8-1 | Chelsea Donner | Triangle | American Nat. | 58KG | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 12-8-1 | Laura Hallock | Choke from back | Dallas Open | ABS | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 11-8-1 | Karen Antunes | Toe hold | Dallas Open | 58KG | F | Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 10-8-1 | Fernanda Mazzelli | Pts: 9x0 | World Champ. | ABS | R1 | Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 10-7-1 | Tammi Musumeci | Palm to palm | World Champ. | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 10-6-1 | Ariadne de Oliveira | Points | World Champ. | 58KG | 4F | Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 9-6-1 | Michelle Nicolini | Armbar | World Pro. | 55KG | R1 | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 9-5-1 | Kanako Inaba | Mounted X choke | FIVE Illinois | 64KG | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 8-5-1 | Chelsea Donner | Pts: 2x0 | FIVE Cali. 2 | 64KG | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 7-5-1 | Pati Fontes | Mounted X choke | FIVE Cali. 2 | 64KG | SF | Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 6-5-1 | Tammi Musumeci | Pts: 2x2, Adv | Pan American | 58KG | F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 6-4-1 | Cristina Brandao | Omoplata/Choke | Pan American | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2014 |
Loss | 5-4-1 | Andresa Correa | N/A | Pan American | ABS | SF | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 5-3-1 | Talita Nogueira | Pts: 4x4, Adv | Pan American | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2014 |
Win | 4-3-1 | Sophia Drysdale | Toe hold | Las Vegas Open | ABS | F | Gi | 2013 |
Loss | 3-3-1 | Marina Ribeiro | Points | World Champ. | 58KG | SF | Gi | 2013 |
Loss | 3-2-1 | Luiza Monteiro | Pts: 0x0, Adv | Pan American | 58KG | F | Gi | 2013 |
Loss | 3-1-1 | Gabrielle Garcia | Clock choke | Pan American | ABS | SF | Gi | 2013 |
Win | 3-0-1 | Talita Nogueira | Choke from back | Pan American | ABS | 4F | Gi | 2013 |
Win | 2-0-1 | Lora Hallock | Choke from back | SA Pro Trials | 56KG | F | Gi | 2013 |
Draw | 1-0-1 | Michelle Nicolini | N/A | Metamoris 2 | ABS | SPF | Gi | 2013 |
Win | 1-0 | Luiza Monteiro | Pts: 8x2 | Copa Podio | ABS | SPF | Gi | 2013 |
Instructor Lineage
Mitsuyo "Count Koma" Maeda → Carlos Gracie, Sr. → Helio Gracie → Royler Gracie → Wellington "Megaton" Dias → Mackenzie Dern