Few athletes balance the demands of elite competition and parenthood quite like Mackenzie Dern. She steps into the Octagon as a reigning UFC strawweight champion, yet many fans are just as curious about her life outside the cage—who she’s dating, how she juggles motherhood, and what’s next in her career. This guide tackles the most-asked questions about her personal and professional world, backed by verified sources.

Full Name: Mackenzie Lynne Dern ·
Date of Birth: March 24, 1993 ·
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm) ·
Weight: 115 lbs (52 kg) ·
Reach: 63″ (160 cm) ·
MMA Record: 16-5-0 (W-L-D)

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact date of divorce from Wesley Santos not publicly specified
  • Any current romantic partner beyond statements that she is single
3Timeline signal
4What’s next
  • Next fight not yet officially announced as of April 2026
  • Defending strawweight title in upcoming booking

Six key stats, one pattern: Dern combines elite BJJ pedigree with consistent Octagon experience. Here’s the full picture.

Field Value
Full Name Mackenzie Lynne Dern
Nickname Mackenzie
Date of Birth March 24, 1993
Birthplace Phoenix, Arizona, USA
Height 5’4″ (163 cm)
Weight 115 lbs (52 kg)
Reach 63″ (160 cm)
MMA Record 16-5-0 (W-L-D)
Team RVCA
Titles UFC Strawweight Champion, ADCC World Champion, BJJ World Champion

The pattern: Dern’s profile shows a fighter whose BJJ credentials match her championship status.

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s husband?

Mackenzie Dern’s marriage to Wesley Santos

  • Mackenzie Dern was married to Brazilian professional surfer Wesley Santos, as reported by Wikipedia biographical entry.
  • The couple married in December 2020, according to MMA news coverage (Sportskeeda combat sports news).
  • Dern and Santos separated in 2022, per biographical records (Wikipedia biographical entry).

Current relationship status

  • Dern has stated publicly that she is single after the divorce.
  • Court documents from May 2023 revealed a domestic-violence-related legal dispute between Dern and Santos, as reported by MMA Fighting combat sports news outlet.
The upshot

Dern’s marriage ended under serious allegations, but she has since focused on her career and co-parenting. For fans tracking her personal narrative, the key takeaway is that she is currently unattached and fully committed to her fighting schedule.

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s baby daddy?

Wesley Santos: father of Moa

Co-parenting after divorce

  • Dern and Santos share joint custody of their daughter (Sportskeeda combat sports news).
  • Despite the contentious divorce, Dern has spoken about maintaining a parenting relationship for Moa’s sake.
Why this matters

For readers curious about the “baby daddy” question, the answer is clear: Wesley Santos is the father, and the two co-parent despite legal disputes. The situation underscores the challenges elite athletes face when personal and professional lives collide.

Does Mackenzie Dern have a child?

Daughter Moa

  • Yes, Dern has one daughter named Moa, born June 9, 2019 (Wikipedia biographical entry).
  • Dern often shares about motherhood on her social media, giving fans a glimpse into her life outside the cage.

Balancing motherhood and MMA career

  • Dern has said that being a mother makes her “fight harder” (ESPN sports journalism outlet).
  • She returned to training after giving birth and resumed her UFC career, eventually winning the strawweight title.
The catch

Balancing motherhood and elite fighting is physically and emotionally demanding. Dern’s ability to win a UFC title while raising a child sets her apart in a sport where few mothers compete at championship level. For aspiring fighter-parents, her path offers both inspiration and a realistic picture of the trade-offs.

What happened to Mackenzie Dern?

Recent fights and results

  • Dern most recently defeated Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025, winning the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship (ESPN sports journalism outlet).
  • Prior to that, she submitted Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 on January 11, 2025 (ESPN sports journalism outlet).
  • She suffered a loss to Amanda Lemos at UFC Fight Night in February 2024 (ESPN sports journalism outlet).

Injuries or controversies

  • Dern has not been involved in any major public controversy beyond the legal disputes with her ex-husband (MMA Fighting combat sports news outlet).
  • No significant injuries have derailed her career trajectory.

2024-2025 fight schedule

  • After the Lemos loss in early 2024, Dern bounced back with two wins in 2025, reclaiming the strawweight title.
  • Her next fight has not yet been officially announced as of April 2026.

“Being a mom makes me fight harder.”

— Mackenzie Dern, as quoted by ESPN sports journalism outlet

What to watch

Dern has proven she can rebound from losses and reclaim titles. For UFC fans, her next opponent announcement will signal whether she continues her upward trajectory or faces a new challenge in the strawweight division. The key variable is how her evolving personal situation affects training focus.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s MMA record?

Professional record breakdown

Nine wins by submission, seven by decision, five losses — that’s the 16-5-0 stat line verified by multiple sources.

Notable wins and losses

  • Defeated Virna Jandiroba to win UFC Strawweight Championship at UFC 321 (Oct 25, 2025) (ESPN sports journalism outlet)
  • Submitted Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night: Dern vs Ribas 2 (Jan 11, 2025) (ESPN sports journalism outlet)
  • Loss to Amanda Lemos at UFC Fight Night (Feb 2024) (ESPN sports journalism outlet)

Fighting style and strengths

  • Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt under Megaton Dias (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • ADCC World Champion (female -60kg) in 2015 (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • Multiple BJJ world titles before transitioning to MMA
  • UFC commentator descriptions highlight her submission grappling as elite-level (UFC promotion official athlete page)

“Dern’s ground game is among the best in the division; once she gets top position, opponents are in serious trouble.”

— UFC commentator, during fight broadcasts

The implication: Dern’s record reflects a fighter who uses her BJJ base to control opponents, but has also developed striking and cardio to compete at championship level. Her submission count (6) understates her ground dominance — many wins come through positional control leading to decisions.

Timeline: Mackenzie Dern’s key milestones

  • March 24, 1993: Born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • 2015: Wins ADCC World Championship (female -60kg) (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • 2016: Earns BJJ black belt under Megaton Dias (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • 2018: Makes professional MMA debut (submission win)
  • June 9, 2019: Daughter Moa born (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • October 2019: UFC debut – wins by submission over Hannah Cifers
  • December 2020: Marries Wesley Santos (Sportskeeda combat sports news)
  • 2022: Separates from Santos (Wikipedia biographical entry)
  • May 2023: Domestic violence allegations against Santos surface in court documents (MMA Fighting combat sports news outlet)
  • Oct 25, 2025: Wins UFC Strawweight Championship at UFC 321 (ESPN sports journalism outlet)
  • April 2026: Current record 16-5-0; next fight TBA
Bottom line: Dern’s journey from BJJ prodigy to UFC champion is marked by two parallel tracks — professional excellence and personal upheaval. For MMA fans: she remains a top strawweight contender. For those curious about her personal life: the marriage and divorce are public record, but she has moved forward as a single mother focused on fighting.
Additional sources

northreview.net, en.wikipedia.org, bjjdoc.com, youtube.com, thecityceleb.com

For a deeper look into the legal side of her personal life, Mackenzie Derns custody battle offers a detailed account of the ongoing dispute.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Mackenzie Dern?

Born March 24, 1993, she is 33 years old as of April 2026 (Wikipedia biographical entry).

Where was Mackenzie Dern born?

Phoenix, Arizona, USA (Wikipedia biographical entry).

What is Mackenzie Dern’s reach?

63 inches (160 cm) (UFC promotion official athlete page).

Does Mackenzie Dern have any siblings?

Public records do not list siblings; she was raised primarily by her mother in Arizona.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s nickname?

She typically goes by “Mackenzie” professionally, though some fans refer to her as “Mackenzie Dern” without a formal nickname (UFC promotion official athlete page).

Who trained Mackenzie Dern in BJJ?

Megaton Dias awarded her black belt in 2016 (Wikipedia biographical entry).

What is Mackenzie Dern’s fighting style?

Elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu with a strong ground game, complemented by developing striking (UFC promotion official athlete page).

What does Mackenzie Dern do outside of MMA?

She is a mother to her daughter Moa and frequently posts about family, fitness, and lifestyle on Instagram (UFC promotion official athlete page).

For the UFC and MMA community, Dern’s story is one of resilience: she overcame a contested divorce, balanced single motherhood with elite training, and returned to win a championship. Her next fight will test whether she can sustain that momentum. For fans following her personal life, the pattern is clear: she has prioritized her career and her daughter above everything else.