Mackenzie Dern has made a successful transition to a promising MMA career after establishing herself as one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in the world.
This installment of The Film Room examines Dern’s mixed martial arts career to date and looks at her potential to parlay her skills into becoming one of the top women in the sport.
The Debut
The two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion made her professional MMA debut at Legacy 58 on July 22, 2016 and did so with considerable hype surrounding her. Dern utilized her superior ground skills in a three-round unanimous decision over Kenia Rosas in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Bread and Butter
Dern upped the ante in her second outing, as she showcased her grappling prowess at Legacy 61 on Oct. 14, 2016 and submitted Montana Stewart with an omoplata and rear-naked choke combination that had to have made Masakazu Imanari proud. The unique choke was up for “Submission of the Year” consideration with various media outlets.
Standup Act
A 2015 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships gold medalist, Dern submitted Mandy Polk with a rear-naked choke at Legacy Fighting Alliance 24 on Oct. 13. However, it was her improved striking that set up the finish, as she rocked Polk with a two-punch combination before jumping on the choke.
Climbing the Ladder
Dern did not skip a beat in her move to Invicta Fighting Championships, where she once again put her evolving standup and world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu skills on display. The MMA Lab representative submitted Kaline Medeiros with a third-round armbar at Invicta 26 on Dec. 8, improving to 5-0 in the process. The victory was impressive enough to earn the 24-year-old Dern a promotion to the UFC.