Mackenzie Dern will compete at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October 25, 2025, aiming to turn out to be the primary lady to win each the ADCC title and the UFC Championship. This feat has been matched by solely three males, and was achieved by Fabricio Werdum alone in all main areas.
Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321
Dern famous in his pre-fight press convention that Werdum is the one fighter to win gold medals on the IBJJF World Championship, Abu Dhabi World Professional, ADCC and UFC, and he hopes to affix him on that uncommon group.
Fabricio Werdum has established himself as a pioneer in elite submission grappling and MMA for 20 years. He received the IBJJF World Championship as a black belt in 2003 and 2004, the ADCC World Championship in 2007, efficiently defended it in 2009, and later ascended to the UFC Heavyweight Championship with submission wins over Cain Velasquez and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. He was inducted into the ADCC Corridor of Fame in 2024 for his distinctive sweep of the game’s 4 premier titles.
Derun’s jiu-jitsu profession rivals Werdum’s by way of prestigious accomplishments. She received the ADCC Championship at -60kg in 2015, turning into the third lady to win this match, and in addition received the IBJJF World Championship (each Gi and No-Gi) and World Professional Abu Dhabi title in the identical 12 months. Her excellent grappling profession is highlighted by gold medals on the IBJJF European Open, Pan American Championships, and Asian Open, making her the one feminine athlete to win black belt gold medals in all 5 main IBJJF Gi occasions.
Dern, who transitioned to MMA, made her UFC debut at UFC 222 in March 2018, successful a unanimous cut up determination over Ashley Yoder. Over seven years, she has amassed 10 wins within the UFC, seven of which had been by submission, together with the primary feminine leglock end in UFC historical past with a kneebar in Might 2020. Her 53 p.c submission success charge exhibits her means to translate elite grappling to the Octagon.
In a press convention forward of UFC 321, Dern mirrored on destiny and timing, explaining:
“I might be the primary lady to carry each the ADCC title and the UFC title. There have been three males who’ve achieved this, however no lady. The one individual to have achieved all 4 – IBJJF, World Professional, ADCC, UFC – is Fabricio Werdum. To maybe be part of him in that historical past can be actually particular for me.”
“I received my first world title right here in Abu Dhabi on April 25, 2015, and now I am combating for the UFC world title on October 25, 2025 — precisely 10 years later, in the identical place. You’ll be able to’t plan for one thing like that. It actually seems like future. I have been coaching since I used to be 5 years previous, so I believe the celebrities aligned.”
Werdum, Demian Maia and Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza have held each ADCC and UFC titles, however Werdum is the one one to have totally conquered the quartet of IBJJF, World Professional, ADCC and UFC titles.
If Dern wins at UFC 321, she won’t solely lengthen her private accomplishments, however she may also break the report alone alongside Werdum. Her marketing campaign represents a fusion of grappling pedigree and MMA ambition, marking a turning level in girls’s martial arts.
