Ten years after winning consecutive jiu-jitsu world titles in the UAE capital, the Brazilian-American returned on October 25 to secure her first UFC championship and make history in the region.
For Mackenzie Dern, Abu Dhabi has always been more than just another competition venue. It is where her name first began to resonate across the global jiu-jitsu community. Now, a decade later, it has also become the place where she reached the pinnacle of her MMA career.
Competing in the co-main event of UFC 321, Dern faced fellow Brazilian Virna Jandiroba for the vacant strawweight title. After five hard-fought rounds, Dern emerged victorious, becoming the first female athlete to capture a UFC belt in the Middle East.
“There’s honestly no better place I could have imagined winning my first belt,” Dern said following her championship victory on October 25. “I’m so proud to be the first woman to win a title here, it feels incredible. Abu Dhabi will always be a special part of my life; it will always be part of my story.”
Her history with the city dates back to 2015, when she won the Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship for the first time, repeating the feat the following year. At the time, she was celebrated for her technical mastery and competitive spirit, quickly becoming a standout performer in the Mubadala Arena.
Nine years later, she once again departs Abu Dhabi with a world title to her name.
“I’m the first woman to ever win a belt, a title in Abu Dhabi,” said the 32-year-old. “Abu Dhabi has a special place in my heart. I wanna come back all the time.”
The moment was steeped in symbolism for Dern, even down to the date. “It’s kind of a full circle moment – 100 per cent,” she explained. “I was talking about it at the start of the year before I fought Amanda Ribas. I said: ‘Man, could you imagine if I fight for the belt in 2025 and I win the world title?’ You know, I won the world title in jiu-jitsu in 2015 and then, like, exactly 10 years later…
“[So] I was already imagining how crazy this would be. And it really did happen. I mean, you can’t plan things like that – like the exact day – the 25th – this location.”
Dern’s journey reflects Abu Dhabi’s own development as a global destination for combat sports, evolving from a world-class jiu-jitsu hub into one of the leading stages for international MMA competition and talent development.
