UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern has reportedly been spotted working as a food delivery driver for DoorDash.
According to a social media post that quickly went viral, a fan claimed to have received their food order directly from the hands of the #6 ranked UFC star.
“This isn’t a troll post… this actually happened today,”
wrote the stunned customer, who insisted they were
“100% sure it was her”
after meeting the Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist at their door.
The revelation has sparked intense debate among fans about compensation in the UFC, with many questioning why a top-ranked athlete would need to supplement their income with gig economy work.
This is especially pertinent considering UFC’s move into grappling and what that might mean for competing organizations.
Dern, who has competed in high-profile bouts and reportedly earned substantial paydays, including a reported $200,000 for her UFC 298 appearance against Amanda Ribas earlier this year, seems an unlikely candidate for food delivery services. She has also been at several Celebrity Poker Tournaments.
Some fans have speculated there could be alternative explanations for Dern’s apparent side hustle. One commenter suggested she might be working to pass time between bouts, while others pointed to her recent divorce as a possible financial factor. There’s also the possibility of someone else using her car or credentials. Dern is reportedly married to Antonio Trocoli – and his career is not going well.
The original poster wondered:
“I don’t want to put anything negative out there, but I do think if she’s doing it for money, there should be awareness that a #6 ranked UFC fighter isn’t being paid enough.”
This wouldn’t be the first time a UFC star has taken on additional employment. UFC welterweight Geoff Neal previously mentioned working at restaurants between training camps simply to stay busy and maintain structure in his life.
The MMA community remains divided on the issue, with some questioning the authenticity of the sighting while others express concern about fighter compensation. Many pointed out that with Dern’s substantial social media following (1.6 million Instagram followers), she could likely secure lucrative sponsorship deals rather than turn to delivery services.
The original post has since been deleted.
