Mackenzie Dern: From BJJ Prodigy to UFC Champion

Mackenzie Dern holds a spot no other woman in combat sports has reached. She's won an IBJJF Black Belt World Championship. She's won an ADCC World Championship. She's also won a UFC title. That makes her the first woman ever to collect all three.

Who Is Mackenzie Dern?

Mackenzie Dern was born on March 24, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona. She grew up around jiu-jitsu almost by default. Her father is Wellington "Megaton" Dias, a decorated Brazilian grappling competitor. That put her on the mats from an early age, in a way very few competitors ever get to experience (Wikipedia).

How She Started

Dern moved through the IBJJF belt ranks fast. She won a World Championship at nearly every level on the way up. She took blue belt titles in 2008, 2009, and 2010. She then swept the entire purple belt division in 2011. At brown belt in 2012, she won both the weight and absolute divisions. Her father promoted her to black belt that same December, just months before her 20th birthday.

Competitive Record and Notable Wins

As a black belt, Dern became the only woman to win gold at all five major IBJJF gi tournaments. That list includes Worlds, Euros, Pan Ams, Brazilian Nationals, and the Asian Open. She then added an ADCC World Championship title in the -60kg division in 2015 (Wikipedia). Dern later moved into mixed martial arts. Her early pro record leaned heavily on fast submission finishes. On October 25, 2025, she won the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship, beating Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision. That result made her the first woman in history to hold IBJJF, ADCC, and UFC titles at once (UFC.com). She successfully defended the belt against Gillian Robertson in August 2026.

Fighting Style: Grappling-First, Improving Everywhere Else

Dern's base is exactly what her résumé suggests. She plays elite guard, hunts fast submission entries, and thrives in scrambles most opponents can't survive once a fight hits the mat. Her striking has clearly sharpened across her UFC run. Even so, her identity as a fighter still comes from the same guard and submission game that made her a world champion long before she ever signed with the UFC. Curious about the belt path she moved through so quickly? Our BJJ black belt guide covers what that promotion actually requires.

Legacy and Current Status

As of August 2026, Dern is the active UFC Women's Strawweight Champion. She's ranked inside the top ten pound-for-pound among the UFC's women fighters. She remains one of the clearest bridges between traditional competitive BJJ and modern MMA. Her title reign has renewed interest in just how far a strong BJJ background can carry a fighter at the top of a major promotion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What BJJ belt rank does Mackenzie Dern hold? Third-degree black belt, promoted by her father Wellington "Megaton" Dias in December 2012.

What is Mackenzie Dern's UFC title status? She is the current UFC Women's Strawweight Champion, having won the title in October 2025 and defended it in August 2026.

Did Mackenzie Dern win an ADCC title? Yes — she won the ADCC World Championship in the -60kg division in 2015.

What team is Mackenzie Dern affiliated with? She trained under her father, Wellington "Megaton" Dias, and built her BJJ résumé through his instruction before transitioning to MMA.

The Bottom Line

Mackenzie Dern's résumé is genuinely one of a kind. No other woman has won IBJJF, ADCC, and UFC gold. She built that path over more than a decade, one world title at a time. Her current UFC belt is simply the newest chapter in a career built on a grappling base almost nobody in her sport can match.