Mackenzie Dern Wiki, Bio, Husband, Net Worth, Height - HollywoodBios (2024)

Who is Mackenzie Dern?

Mackenzie Dern, officially Mackenzie Lynne Dern Santos, is a well-recognizedmixed martial artist (MMA) professional and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Besides, Dern is widely acknowledged as one of the best female grapplers of her time.

Profile of Mackenzie Dern

Early-life, Education & Family Background

Mackenzie Dern was born on 24^th March, 1993, in Phoenix, Arizona. As of 2022, she is 29 years old. Her father is Wellington Dias, who is a well-known grapple fighter from Phoenix, US. Meanwhile, the whereabouts of her biological mother is kept discrete, while Luciana Taveres behaves as her stepmother.

Reportedly, Dern’s early yearswere spent traveling back and forth between Arizona and Brazil, where her father was born. Apparently, Dern began following her father to the academy when she was a baby, and by the age of three, she was already practicing the gentle art with both her father and her stepmother Luciana Tavares.

In addition, Mackenzie also began competing at an early age. Nonetheless, she immediately dominated the kids grappling scene in Arizona, because to the experience she had from starting as a toddler. In parallel, Dern, a natural athlete, also participated in judo contests to keep her throwing skills honed.

Apparently, Mackenzie and her stepmother Luciana Tavares (born on 4^th December, 1962) are approximately thirty-three years and three months apart in age. Regardless, they share a very close bond with each other. Interestingly, Luciana stepped in when Mackenzie was a vulnerable child to assist her in her quest to become a world-class fighter. Accordingly, she also trained Dern for seven years, and their relationship is very loving and respectful. Furthermore, Mackenzie’s stepmother’s expertise enabled her be one of the top grapplers in the game.

Mackenzie Dern’s Professional Career

Mackenzie is well renowned in the Jiu-Jitsu community as the skilled daughter of “Wellington “Megaton” Dias and the stepdaughter of “Luka” Dias, two well-known members of the community. Besides, Dern began participating in the adult level of Jiu-jitsu at the age of 14. Reportedly, it is about the same time she decided to devote herself entirely to the sport. In addition,Dern started engaging in BJJ’s adult division at the age of 14, and as a teenager, she earned the respect of the community by winning numerous significant accolades.

Eventually, Dern won the world title in every belt on her path to black belt, a degree she achieved before her 20th birthday. She revealed that, she owes her achievementsto a lot of aptitude and the guidance of excellent trainers who are her father, Wellington Dias, and step-mother Leticia Ribeiro.

Specifically, Dern’s debutfight as a black belt was a super-fight against a seasoned veteran of the sport, Luiza Monteiro, at the Copa Podio in January 2013. Incredibly, Mackenzie won her very first fight convincingly. Thereafter, she went on to fight at the European Open only a few weeks later, winning her weight division and cementing her reputation as one of the best featherweight black belts in the world.

Honors & Accolades

Mackenzie Dern is a mixed martial artist from the United States who is known for being the top female black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. In fact, she is a former IBJJF world No. 1 competitor who is presently placed 6th in the female categories. Moreover, she is an ADCC World Champion as well as a no-GI BJJ World Champion.

Besides, Dern is also noted for defeating Katherine Roy in the Legacy Fighting Alliance 6 event in 2017. And, at the 2017 World MMA Awards, she was nominated for Submission of the Year award.

Major Achievements:

• IBJJF World Champion (2015)
• IBJJF World No-Gi Champion (2015*)
• UAEJJF Abu Dhabi World Pro Champion (2015**)
• IBJJF Pan American Champion (2016/2015)
• FIVE Super League Champion (2015)
• IBJJF European Open Champion (2016/2015)
• Copa Podio Superfight Champion (2013)

Departure from the Black House MMA

As per Dern’s statement, she departed Black House MMA following an alleged incident involving her initial coach, Juan Gomez, in which he got into a violent struggle with her spouse over a money dispute. Meanwhile, Gomez, on the other hand, denied that money was the motive. Consequently, both Dern and Gomez were asked to quit the team.

Dern’s Personal-life & Relationships

Mackenzie Dern is currently married to professional surfer Wesley Santos. Reportedly, Dern revealed in February 2019 that she had put her MMA career on hiatus due to her very pregnancy with her husband Wesley. Following this, her daughter, Moa Dern Santos, was born on 9^th June, 2019.

Physique

Mackenzie is a gorgeous athlete with a well-toned physique. Moreover, the brunette with beautiful brown eyes stands at 5 feet and 4 inches(163cm) tall.

Social Media Handles of Mackenzie Dern

Mackenzie is an avid user of various social media platforms and can be easily accessed on her personal social media handles. Apparently, she has 475k Facebook following while she has 1 million Instagram followers. In the meantime, she has 51.8kfollowers on her verified Twitter account.

Net Worth of Mackenzie Dern

With her prolific MMA career, Mackenzie Dern has an impressive estimated net worth between $2 million and $4 million dollars. Apparently, Dern earned almost $50,000 during her first fight, and $164,000 in her second fight against Nina Nunes. Meanwhile, her monthly remuneration is estimated to be in the $34,000 bracket.

Accordingly, her personal fortune primarily derives from her spectacular career as a professional mixed martial artist and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu competitor. In addition, Dern also makes revenue through a variety of brand endorsem*nts, sponsorships, advertisem*nts, and other sources, all of which ultimately aidsto her net value.

Interesting Facts of Mackenzie Dern

• Mackenzie Dern is the daughter ofWellington “Megaton” Dias, a renownedBrazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.
• And, Wesley Santos, a professional surfer, is her husband.
• Reportedly, she debuted with her first MMA fight in July 2016.
• At the 2017 World MMA Awards, she was nominated for Submission of the Year.
• Dern earned victory in her Invicta FC debut against Kaline Medeiros on December 8, 2017 at Invicta FC 26: Maia vs. Niedzwiedz.
• Previously, she also competed for Legacy Fighting Alliance.
• Remarkably, she is listed amongst the most acclaimedMMA fighters.
• Moreover, Dern is also included in the elite list American MMA practitioner.
• Following her hiatus in February 2019, she gave birth after few months to her daughter Moa on 9^th June.