Mackenzie Lynne Dern Santos, born on March 24, 1993, is an American professional MMA fighter and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. She hails from Arizona and is the daughter of the celebrated grappling competitor Wellington "Megaton" Dias. Dern’s childhood was spent splitting time between Arizona and Brazil, allowing her to become fluent in both English and Portuguese. As the years passed, Portuguese became her primary language due to her family and professional ties. Dern began her martial arts training at the tender age of 3 and began competing in adult divisions by age 14.
Dern's path in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu reached its pinnacle when she achieved world championships across all belt levels, receiving her black belt from her father in December 2012. She also holds the distinction of being the only female Jiu-Jitsu athlete to secure first-place victories at the top five IBJJF Gi Championships, including victories against much larger opponents such as Gabi Garcia. Presently, she holds the #6 position in the UFC women's strawweight division and maintains a decent record of 14 wins and 5 losses (14-5-0).
Who was Mackenzie Dern’s ex-husband?
Mackenzie Dern, the accomplished UFC strawweight contender, was previously married to professional surfer Wesley Santos. Their relationship, marked by an engagement in 2019 and the birth of their daughter Moa, was not a smooth sailing one.
Dern accused Santos of physical abuse, leading to a tumultuous legal battle and a highly publicized divorce. Santos denied the allegations and expressed disappointment over the public discussion of their divorce. Despite their efforts, the relationship ended, and they now share joint custody of their daughter, Moa.
Why did Mackenzie Dern leave her gym?
Dern departed from her previous gym, Black House MMA, following an incident involving her original coach, Juan Gomez, reportedly stemming from a disagreement about money that led to a physical altercation between Gomez and her ex-husband. However, Gomez contested the notion that money was the sole reason for the altercation. Subsequently, both Dern and Gomez were asked to leave the team.
Also Read: Mackenzie Dern's Next Fight
FAQs on Mackenzie Dern's ex-husband
A. Mackenzie Dern was married to Wesley Santos before their divorce.
A. Wesley Santos is a professional surfer.
A. Yes, Mackenzie Dern shared a daughter named Moa with Wesley Santos.
A. Dern resides and fights out of Los Angeles, California.
A. Renowned BJJ competitor Wellington "Megaton" Dias is the father of Mackenzie Dern.
