By BJJ Heroes on February 26th, 2013

Mackenzie Dern (Gracie Humaita)

Mackenzie Dern BJJ Heroes Page Mackenzie Dern is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt and one of the top female grapplers of her generation, being also the daughter of another famous BJJ personality, the legendary “Megaton”. Mackenzie Dern started competing in the adult divisions of Jiu Jitsu tournaments at the age of 14, winning the respect of most BJJ enthusiasts by winning several important trophies as a teenager. Her grappling tuition has been closely followed by her father, and also by Royler Gracie, Letícia Ribeiro and Mackenzie Dern’s boyfriend Augusto Mendes.

Mackenzie Dern Biography

Full Name: Mackenzie Lynne Dern

Nickname: N/A

Lineage: Mitsuyo Maeda > Carlos Gracie > Helio Gracie >Royler Gracie > Wellington Dias > Mackenzie Dern

Main Achievements:

World Champion (2012 brown weight & absolute, 2011 purple, 2010, 2009 & 2008 blue)
World No Gi Champion (2012 brown, 2011 weight & absolute, 2010 & 2009 blue/purple)
Pan American Champion (2012 brown, 2011 purple)
European Open Champion (2013 black, 2012 brown, 2011 purple weight & absolute, 2010 blue)
Copa Podio Superfight Champion (2013)

Favourite Position/Technique: Open Guard.

Weight Division: Peso Pena (58kg/129lbs)

Team/Association: Gracie Humaitá

Mackenzie Dern Biography

Mackenzie Dern was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on the 24th of March, 1993. Being the daughter of one of the top BJJ black belts in the world, Dern started accompanying her father to the academy since she was a baby, and by the age of 3 she was already practicing the gentle art with both her father and her stepmother (also a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt) Luciana Tavares.

Dern started competing at a very young age, and with all the experience gathered from starting at such a young age, she quickly dominated the kids grappling scene in the Arizona state. Being a natural at sports, Mackenzie Dern also competed in Judo tournaments to keep her throwing habilities sharp. She also started competing in the adult divisions of the BJJ circuit by the age of 14, around the same time when Mackenzie Dern decided to dedicate herself fully to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.

With a ton of talent, and the care of tremendous coaches such as her father, Wellington Dias and Leticia Ribeiro, Dern managed to win a world championship in every belt on her way to black belt, a degree she reached before her 20th birthday. Mackenzie Dern’s first fight as a black belt came in the shape of a superfight against a seasoned veteran of the sport, Luiza Monteiro, at the Copa Podio in January 2013, a fight Mackenzie won conclusively with an 8×2 scoreboard, moving on to fight at the European Open just a few weeks later, winning her weight division and cementing her name as one of the top featherweight black belts in the world.

Mackenzie Dern vs Angela Wilson (2012)