Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s Daughter? Inside UFC Star’s Life as a Fighter and Mother to Moa, Becoming Her Strongest Motivation

From motherhood to the Octagon, Mackenzie Dern finds strength in Moa.

Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Mackenzie Dern will make her return to Abu Dhabi this weekend, stepping into the cage at UFC 321 to face Virna Jandiroba in a rematch five years in the making. Dern, 15-5, has evolved since their first meeting at UFC 256, where she earned a unanimous decision win. But behind her technical growth and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu mastery lies a more personal story, one defined by motherhood and the balancing act between raising her daughter, Moa, and pursuing championship glory.

THE WOMEN'S STRAWWEIGHT TITLE IS ON THE LINE 🏆

Watch Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern II this Saturday at 2 PM ET on ESPN PPV. pic.twitter.com/XwOMTWCOEH
— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) October 24, 2025

Who Is Mackenzie Dern’s Daughter Moa?

Mackenzie Dern’s daughter, Moa, was born on June 9, 2019, during a turning point in the fighter’s career and life. Dern welcomed Moa with her then-husband, professional surfer Wesley Santos. Though their marriage later ended in 2022 amid allegations of physical abuse, Dern has continued to raise her daughter with the same determination that fuels her fighting career. Balancing training camps, travel, and motherhood hasn’t been easy, but Dern often speaks of Moa as her biggest motivation and grounding force.

When asked if her daughter might follow in her footsteps in 2020, Dern’s response was immediate. “Oh, for sure,” she laughed. “I see the kids already when I go to tournaments, and they’re so advanced. They already have their sponsors on their gis and I’m seeing what they’re doing. We’re gonna get in there with the most advanced stuff.”

MacKenzie Dern celebrating her win with her daughter is everything ❤️#UFC321 | Saturday, Primetime | LIVE on TNT Sports Box Office pic.twitter.com/CAITZB8slD
— UFC on TNT Sports (@ufcontnt) October 23, 2025

A Fighter, a Mother, and a Champion in Balance

Born in Arizona to legendary grappler Megaton Dias, Mackenzie Dern grew up straddling two worlds (Brazil and the United States) long before she was balancing motherhood and fighting. A former No. 1 IBJJF competitor, Dern transitioned to MMA with the same grace that defines her jiu-jitsu game. But in 2019, her path took a pause when she announced her pregnancy, putting her career on hold.

Four months after Moa’s birth, Dern returned to face Amanda Ribas, a bold move that ended in a decision loss but set the tone for her comeback. “I could have waited longer, but if ring rust really exists, I wanted to get it out of the way now and not let it get too bad,” Dern said in 2020. “It was easy with my daughter being younger… she just stayed in her car seat or with my husband, and it wasn’t so difficult.”

📸 Back in the win column! 🇧🇷 Mackenzie Dern beams with joy in her #UFCAbuDhabi victory shots, celebrating with her adorable daughter Moa. This fierce mom showcased incredible heart and warrior spirit to secure the win over the tough Loopy Godinez today. #WMMA #UFC pic.twitter.com/ol26MGt86W
— Women's MMA Rankings (@WMMARankings) August 3, 2024

Her perseverance paid off. After years of ups and downs, Dern avenged her loss to Ribas in January 2025 with a clinical armbar finish. Now, as she heads into UFC 321, Dern is fighting for Moa, the little “corner teammate” who’s been part of her journey from day one.

Mandatory Image Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

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Rudra Dubey

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I’m an academic turned sports writer from Raipur, India, specializing in the NFL, MMA, and tennis at The Playoffs. I previously wrote for Sportskeeda and hold a B.A. and M.A. in History. My journey into sports media began far from the field, rooted in the arts and sciences. Funny enough, I didn’t grow up a sports fan; I used to see it all as just noise. But a fateful writing job introduced me to the world of sports, and what began as a gig quickly became a passion. I understood those voices aren’t noise; they’re emotions of true sports fans, and now I am one of them, writing with the same energy I once questioned.