UFC star Mackenzie Dern has accomplished a great deal over the course of her career. She has won every prestigious BJJ tournament ther eis and also competes in the UFC. But she’s won IBJJF Worlds just once.
In a recent interview, Dern compared the impact of winning jiu-jitsu world titles versus being a UFC star.
Dern explained that while becoming a world champion in jiu-jitsu is meaningful on a personal level, she wanted to find a way to make a broader impact.
She stated, “How can I make a difference for the community if I’m like a ten time world champion? I mean, that’s good on a personal level, you know?” She went on to cite jiu-jitsu legends like Roger Gracie and Robson Gracie as examples of world champions, but noted their impact was somewhat limited.
The platform the UFC provides motivated Dern to transition to MMA. She saw legends like Royce Gracie use the UFC to spread Brazilian jiu-jitsu to the masses. As the first major female fighter representing the Gracie family in MMA, Dern felt she could inspire women who previously thought martial arts wasn’t for them.
“My biggest motivation was to try and spread it so to as many people as I can,” Dern explained. She hoped to reach people outside of the martial arts community and show that women have a place in sports like jiu-jitsu and MMA.
In summary, while becoming a world champion in jiu-jitsu was a major accomplishment for Mackenzie Dern, fighting in the UFC gave her an opportunity to have a broader influence.
As one of the first women representing Brazilian jiu-jitsu in the UFC, Dern strives to inspire women and expand the reach of martial arts. Her passion goes beyond personal glory and into making a positive impact.
And for the most part she’s succeeding. Dern was cited as the favorite mixed martial artists of Mark Zuckerberg. Her social media is booming reaching millions of people every day.
