Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern (born March 24, 1993 and often incorrectly referred to as “McKenzie Dern” and “MackenzieDern”) is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) practitioner and mixed martial artist. The International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation (IBJJF) ranks Mackenzie as the number one female black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. She holds a black belt under her father, Wellington “Megaton” Dias, who is widely recognized as one of the top Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belts in the world. Dern is an ADCC and IBJJF No Gi BJJ World Champion in the black belt division as well.

Mackenzie Dern MMA

“I’m still trying to find myself in MMA, but my style in jiu-jitsu is very aggressive already, so that part was pretty easy. Even though in my first fight I didn’t submit the girl, I attacked with a kneebar, toehold, choke, armbar. I attacked with almost everything you can think of. Even Benson Henderson said in an interview that he thinks my jiu-jitsu transitions very well to MMA.

Mackezie Dern Jiu Jitsu

“MMA fighters who don’t really have a good jiu-jitsu background, for them it’s easy to kind of just hold. If they have wrestling, they can just kind of hold and take the space. But if you have really good angles and are aggressive, sooner or later they’re going to fall into a submission.

“They can defend one or two, but it’s harder when the person is attacking like 10 different submissions all over the place. I think that’s really my style, and I think that’s why people are really going to like my fights – hopefully.” Dern said to MMAjunkie before her MMA debut.

Mackenzie Dern Instagram

@MackenzieDern

Mackenzie Dern UFC

Mackenzie Dern UFC debut will finally come against Ashley Yoder at UFC 222 in March. Dern will head into the octagon with an unblemished 5-0 record, with three wins coming by way of submission.