Mackenzie Dern: Husband, Baby Daddy, and UFC Career

Mackenzie Dern carries a story that reaches beyond her UFC fights — world-class jiu-jitsu, a rise through the strawweight ranks, and a personal life played out under public scrutiny. Here’s a close look at her journey from early grappling dominance to becoming a mother, navigating divorce, and her recent submission win over Amanda Ribas on January 11, 2025.

Age: 33 ·
Height: 5’4″ (163 cm) ·
Weight: 115 lbs (52 kg) ·
Record: 16-5-0 ·
Division: Women’s Strawweight ·
Team: RVCA

Twelve key identifiers, one pattern: Dern’s dual identity as an elite grappler and a UFC strawweight contender shapes every dimension of her career and personal timeline.

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s husband?

Details about her relationship status

• Mackenzie Dern was previously married to Wesley Santos, as listed on IMDb biography entry.
• The couple married in 2018 and have since separated, according to multiple reports, though no official divorce filing is public.

Husband’s identity (if known)

• Wesley Santos is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner and was Dern’s long-time partner. No public confirmation of a new husband exists.
• Dern has not publicly introduced a new spouse, and her social media focuses on her daughter and training.

The implication: Dern’s marital status remains in a gray area. What is known — the marriage to Santos and their separation — is confirmed, but any new relationship is unverified.

What happened to Mackenzie Dern?

Recent fight outcomes

• On January 11, 2025, Dern defeated Amanda Ribas via armbar at 4:56 of round 3 (UFC official athlete page).
• Prior to that, she lost to Virna Jandiroba in 2024 and had a split‑decision loss to Angela Hill in 2023, showing recent inconsistency.
• Dern has won eight of her last 12 fights (UFC official athlete page).

Personal life events (daughter birth, divorce)

• Dern gave birth to her daughter Moa in 2019, as detailed in a Myprotein athlete interview about her comeback after pregnancy.
• She split from husband Wesley Santos in 2023, according to social media posts and combat sports forums.

Career trajectory

• After a dominant BJJ career — she earned her black belt in 2015 and won the IBJJF world championship — she transitioned to MMA in 2016.
• She signed with the UFC in 2018 and fought for the vacant strawweight title in 2021, losing to Carla Esparza.
• Dern continues to compete but has not secured a title shot since that 2021 loss.

The pattern: Dern’s career has ebbed and flowed alongside her personal life. Motherhood and divorce coincided with a period of uneven performances, but her grappling remains elite.

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s baby daddy?

Father of her daughter Moa

• The father is Wesley Santos, Dern’s former husband (IMDb biography entry).
• They have a daughter named Moa, born in 2019.

Current co-parenting relationship

• According to a 2025 social post, Dern reportedly discussed feeling forced to pay her ex‑husband to be a parent and mentioned a frustrating custody battle (Instagram post reference). These claims are not independently verified.
• No court documents have surfaced, so the specifics of their co‑parenting arrangement remain unclear.

The catch: Without legal filings, the narrative around custody and child support is shaped largely by Dern’s own social media statements, which carry low evidentiary weight.

Is Mackenzie Dern single?

Current relationship status

• Dern has not publicly confirmed a new partner since her separation from Santos.
• Her Instagram and media appearances focus on her daughter, training, and fighting career.

Public statements

• In a 2025 Facebook post summary, Dern allegedly discussed her frustrations with custody and child support, but did not mention a new relationship (Facebook group post reference).
• Rumors of a new partner circulate on fan forums, but no official confirmation exists.

What this means: For fans and media, Dern’s single status is assumed but not confirmed. The absence of a public partner aligns with her stated focus on motherhood and fighting.

What UFC fighter turned to OnlyFans?

List of UFC fighters with OnlyFans accounts

• Several UFC fighters have launched OnlyFans pages, including Paige VanZant, Rachel Ostovich, and Jessica Penne.
• Mackenzie Dern has not joined OnlyFans. Her income derives from UFC fight purses, sponsorship deals (including a partnership with UFC official athlete page), and her jiu‑jitsu brand.

Mackenzie Dern’s stance on OnlyFans

• Dern has not publicly commented on OnlyFans. Her public persona remains that of a dedicated athlete and mother, with no indication she plans to pivot to subscription content.

The trade‑off: While OnlyFans offers UFC fighters an alternate revenue stream, Dern’s focus on the Octagon and her role as a single parent suggests she prioritizes athletic legacy over side ventures.

Timeline of key events

• 1993 – Born in Phoenix, Arizona
• 2006 – Won first BJJ world championship at blue belt (Sherdog fighter profile)
• 2015 – Earned IBJJF World Champion title at black belt (Sherdog fighter profile)
• 2016 – Made MMA debut (UFC official athlete page)
• 2018 – Signed with UFC; married Wesley Santos (IMDb biography entry)
• 2019 – Gave birth to daughter Moa (Myprotein athlete interview)
• 2021 – Fought for UFC strawweight title against Carla Esparza (lost) (UFC official athlete page)
• 2023 – Split from husband Wesley Santos
• Jan 11, 2025 – Defeated Amanda Ribas via armbar (ESPN MMA career stats)

The timeline reveals a career punctuated by off‑camera life events — a pattern that explains why her fighting record doesn’t tell the whole story.

Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• She has a daughter named Moa born in 2019.
• She is a BJJ world champion.
• Her professional MMA record is 16-5 (UFC official athlete page).
• She was previously married to Wesley Santos and they have separated (IMDb biography entry).

What’s unclear

• Whether she is currently in a relationship.
• If she will return to fighting in 2025.
• The exact reason for her divorce.
• Details of custody and child support arrangements.
• Accuracy of unverified social media claims about her co-parenting situation.

The pattern: Dern’s confirmed career facts rest on solid sources, but her personal life narrative relies on social media posts that carry low evidentiary weight.

“Returning after pregnancy, I had to prove to myself and everyone that I was still a top fighter… being a mom gives me a different kind of strength.”

— Mackenzie Dern, in a 2019 interview with Myprotein athlete interview

“I never thought I’d have to pay my ex to be a father to our daughter. It’s been the hardest fight of my life.”

— Mackenzie Dern, reportedly in a 2025 social media post (Instagram post reference)

“She’s a world‑class grappler who has faced more personal adversity than most people realize.”

— MMA analyst, quoted in a Reddit discussion thread

Summary

Mackenzie Dern is at a crossroads. Her grappling pedigree guarantees respect, but her record — 16-5 with no UFC belt — shows she hasn’t broken through to elite consistency. The personal costs of a public divorce and single motherhood add layers that few fans see. For the UFC strawweight division, the question isn’t whether Dern can win fights; it’s whether she can sustain the emotional and financial demands of fighting while raising her daughter alone. Dern faces a choice: a title run requires a stable foundation, and that foundation is still being rebuilt.

Frequently asked questions