Mackenzie Lynne Dern Santos was born on March 24, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona, to Wellington “Megaton” Dias, one of the world’s most decorated Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners. She began training in jiu-jitsu at age 3 under her father and quickly rose through the ranks, claiming gold at ADCC and earning the IBJJF world No. 1 ranking in the female black-belt division.
After dominating the grappling world, Dern transitioned to MMA, debuting in 2017 with Invicta FC (where she scored a unanimous-decision win over Kaline Medeiros) and earning her UFC contract in 2018. Known for her exceptional ground game—she owns eight submission victories (3 rear-naked chokes, 3 armbars, 1 kneebar) and multiple Performance of the Night bonuses—Dern has become one of the sport’s most captivating fighters both for her talent and her vibrant personality.
Image: Canal Faixa Preta, Mackenzie Dern, CC BY 3.0
What the Fighter Is Known For
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Elite Submission Specialist: Over half her wins come by submission, and her ability to convert clinches into fight-ending armbars or chokes keeps opponents on constant alert.
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High-Level Grappler: Former ADCC and No-Gi BJJ World Champion with a black belt under Wellington Dias.
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Relentless Ground Pressure: Combines world-class jiu-jitsu with improving takedown setups, averaging an 53% finish rate on takedowns.
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Key Stats
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Full Name: Mackenzie Lynne Dern Santos
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Born: March 24, 1993 (age 32)
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Birthplace: Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
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Height: 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)
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Weight Class: Strawweight (115 lb / 52 kg)
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Reach: 63 in (160 cm)
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Stance: Orthodox
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Teams: MMA Lab (2016–2018), Black House MMA (2018–2020), Checkmat RVCA (2020–present)
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Pro MMA Record: 15–5–0
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UFC Ranking: #6 women’s strawweight (as of April 2025)
Career Highlights
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Invicta FC Debut (Dec 8, 2017): Unanimous decision win over Kaline Medeiros at Invicta FC 26
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UFC Debut (Mar 3, 2018): Split decision loss to Ashley Yoder at UFC 222
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First UFC Submission (May 12, 2018): Rear-naked choke finish of Amanda Cooper at UFC 224
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Performance of the Night (May 30, 2020): Kneebar submission of Hannah Cifers at UFC on ESPN
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Performance of the Night (Sep 19, 2020): Armbar submission of Randa Markos at UFC Fight Night
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Main Event Win (Jan 11, 2025): Armbar submission of Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Ribas 2
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Concluding Thoughts
Mackenzie Dern’s transition from BJJ legend to elite MMA contender is a testament to her dedication, skill, and adaptability. As a mother and athlete, she balances the pressures of competition with life outside the cage—fueling her drive to chase that strawweight title shot. With her submission arsenal and ever-growing striking, Dern remains one of the most exciting fighters to watch in the UFC.
For more on the UFC’s top female talent, check out Top 7 UFC’s Hottest Female Fighters Today.