UFCMackenzie Dern Record: 17-5-0
StrawweightRecord17-5-0
Age33
DivisionStrawweight · #4
Combat Edge Elo1735
Last fightAug 15 2026
Mackenzie Dern has a 17-5-0 professional record and is 33 years old in the Strawweight division, representing RVCA. This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Aug 16, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Mackenzie Dern bio
Personal background
Mackenzie Dern is a UFC strawweight champion and the most decorated pure grappler in the 115-pound division, a 5'4" American widely regarded as one of the finest Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in women's MMA. Born on March 24, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona, Dern was raised on the mats by her father, Brazilian jiu-jitsu legend Wellington "Megaton" Dias, a black belt under the Gracie lineage who runs his own academy in Phoenix. She began training around age three and competed from childhood, ultimately earning her black belt before age 20 and assembling one of the sport's great competitive grappling résumés, including IBJJF World and ADCC honors. She fights out of the RVCA training base, building an MMA game around her world-class submission skills.
From grappling phenom to MMA
Before her MMA career, Dern was a generational submission grappler, headlining super-fights and beating elite competitors on the mat. She transitioned to mixed martial arts in 2016, debuting on the regional Legacy FC circuit and quickly showcasing her ground game with a first-round rear-naked-choke-to-omoplata finish of Montana De La Rosa. After stacking regional wins, she signed with the UFC and debuted in 2018, edging Ashley Yoder by split decision before submitting Amanda Cooper with a first-round rear-naked choke.
Building a contender
Dern absorbed an honest lesson in 2019, dropping a unanimous decision to Amanda Ribas, but responded with a defining run of submissions that highlighted her elite grappling. She tapped Hannah Cifers with a slick kneebar, armbarred Randa Markos, outpointed Virna Jandiroba, and submitted Nina Nunes by armbar. A 2021 decision loss to Marina Rodriguez exposed the striking gap she needed to close, and she answered with a split-decision win over Tecia Pennington.
The road to gold
Dern's climb included setbacks that sharpened her: a five-round decision loss to Xiaonan Yan in 2022, a knockout defeat to Jéssica Andrade in 2023, and a decision loss to Amanda Lemos in 2024. But she remained one of the division's most dangerous finishers, bouncing back with a decision over Lupita Godinez and a third-round armbar of Amanda Ribas to avenge her earlier loss. That momentum carried her to UFC 321 in October 2025, where she outpointed Virna Jandiroba over five rounds to capture the UFC Strawweight Championship and complete her journey from grappling icon to UFC titleholder.
Fighting style
Dern's identity is her jiu-jitsu, among the very best the women's game has seen: relentless guard work, scrambles and a deep submission arsenal that has produced kneebars, armbars and chokes against UFC-level opposition. Of her 16 wins, eight are submissions and eight decisions, a 50% finish rate that understates how often she threatens the tap. Her honest weakness has long been her striking, and several of her losses came against opponents who kept the fight standing and out of her world on the mat. As her boxing and takedown entries have improved, she has learned to drag elite strikers into the grappling exchanges she dominates.
Career highlights
- UFC Strawweight Champion — defeated Virna Jandiroba over five rounds at UFC 321 to claim the title.
- Elite submission artist — eight of her wins by submission, including kneebar, armbar and rear-naked-choke finishes against Randa Markos and others.
- Decorated grappling pedigree — a world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt who avenged her loss to Amanda Ribas with a third-round armbar.
Career snapshot
Mackenzie Dern career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1735Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#219
Women's Strawweight Title#4of 84 active
Peak1735
Last move+16
Opponent quality1691avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1735 Elo after defeating Gillian Robertson (2026-08-15)
Similar Elo in Women's Strawweight Title
Mackenzie Dern quick answers
What is Mackenzie Dern's record?
Mackenzie Dern's professional MMA record is 17-5-0.
How old is Mackenzie Dern?
Mackenzie Dern is 33 years old.
What weight class is Mackenzie Dern?
Mackenzie Dern fights at Strawweight in UFC.
What gym does Mackenzie Dern represent?
Mackenzie Dern is associated with RVCA. Combat Edge publishes a gym average once at least 3 active fighters have Elo.
How tall is Mackenzie Dern?
Mackenzie Dern is 5'4" tall with a 63" reach.
How much does Mackenzie Dern weigh?
Mackenzie Dern competes at Strawweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 115 lbs.
What is Mackenzie Dern's Combat Edge Elo?
Mackenzie Dern's Combat Edge Elo is 1735, with a peak Elo of 1735.
How strong is Mackenzie Dern's recent opposition?
Mackenzie Dern's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1691 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Mackenzie Dern's last fight?
Mackenzie Dern's latest tracked pro fight was against Gillian Robertson at UFC 330 : Makhachev vs. Machado Garry on Aug 15 2026.
What is Mackenzie Dern's recent form?
Mackenzie Dern's recent tracked pro form is W-W-W-W-L over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Mackenzie Dern usually win?
Mackenzie Dern's 17 recorded wins include 0 knockouts, 8 submissions, and 9 decisions, with 47% ending before the final bell.
0Wins by knockout
8Wins by submission
9Wins by decision
1Loss by knockout
0Loss by submission
4Loss by decision
Mackenzie Dern stats
Record : 17 / 5 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
3.47Fighter4.02UFC strawweight avg
Significant striking accuracy
42%Fighter45%UFC strawweight avg
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
3.93Fighter4.07UFC strawweight avg
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
52%Fighter54%UFC strawweight avg
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0.93Fighter1.40UFC strawweight avg
Takedown accuracy
18%Fighter33%UFC strawweight avg
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
38%Fighter59%UFC strawweight avg
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
1.06Fighter0.42UFC strawweight avg
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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