Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie Dern is an accomplished Brazilian jiu jitsu black belt and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter who is regarded as one of the top female grapplers of her generation. Dern is also known in jiu jitsu’s circuit as the daughter of the legendary Wellington “Megaton” Dias and stepdaughter to “Luka” Dias, two respected members of the community and accomplished athletes in their own right. Mackenzie Dern started competing in BJJ’s adult division at the age of 14, winning several important trophies as a teenager. Her grappling tuition has been closely followed by her father as well as Royler Gracie and Letícia Ribeiro before her transition to cage fighting.

Mackenzie Dern Biography

Full Name: Mackenzie Lynne Dern

Nickname: N/A

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

Main Achievements:

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championships (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championships NO-GI (2015*)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan American Championships (2016/2015)
• 1st Place FIVE Super League Championships (2015)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2016/2015)
• 1st Place AJP Abu Dhabi World Pro (2015**)

Main Achievements (Colored Belts):

• 1st Place IBJJF World Championships (2012** brown, 2011 purple, 2010/2009/2008 blue)
• 1st Place IBJJF World Championships (2012/2011** brown, 2010/2009 blue + purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF Pan American Championships (2012 brown, 2011 purple)
• 1st Place IBJJF European Open (2012 brown, 2011** purple, 2010 blue)

* Absolute
** Weight and absolute

Favourite Position/Technique: Open Guard

Weight Division: Peso Pena (58,50 kg / 129.0 lbs)

Team/Association: Gracie Humaitá

Mackenzie Dern Biography

Mackenzie Dern was born in Phoenix, Arizona, on March 24, 1993.

Being the daughter of one of the top BJJ black belts in the world, Dern started accompanying her father to the family’s jiu-jitsu school from the time she was a baby, and by the age of 3 she was already practicing the gentle art with both her father and her stepmother Luciana Tavares.

Dern started competing at a very young age. With the experience gathered from starting as a toddler, she quickly dominated the kids’ grappling scene in the local circuit. Being a natural at sports, Mackenzie Dern also competed in judo tournaments to keep her throwing techniques sharp. During her early teens (14), Dern decided to dedicate her full attention to the sport, then becoming a professional athlete.

With a ton of talent, and the care of tremendous coaches such as her father, Wellington Dias and Leticia Ribeiro, Dern won the 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 super fight 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.

Banner picture by BJJPix.com

Mackenzie Dern vs Angela Wilson (2012)

Mackenzie Dern vs Sophia Drysdale (2012)

Mackenzie Dern vs Lora Hallock (2013)