The lights of the Octagon shone bright on October 4, 2025. The crowd was electric, having just witnessed another signature performance. Mackenzie Dern, her hand raised in victory, had done it again. Another fight, another dominant display of grappling, and another submission win added to her impressive record. For those watching, it was a thrilling finish. But for students of the gentle art, it was something more: a powerful, high-definition reaffirmation of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu‘s lethal effectiveness on the world’s biggest fighting stage.
Mackenzie Dern is no ordinary fighter. She is a legend in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world, a multiple-time World and ADCC Champion who transitioned her unparalleled grappling skills to the chaotic world of Mixed Martial Arts. Her latest victory wasn’t just a win for her; it was a win for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It was a clear demonstration that even in the modern era of well-rounded, hybrid athletes, a true master of submission grappling remains the most dangerous puzzle to solve.
This article isn’t just a recap. It’s an expert breakdown of how she won. We will decode the techniques, the strategy, and the principles she used to secure the finish. More importantly, we’ll connect these elite concepts to the fundamental lessons that every student, from white belt to black belt, can apply to their own training right here at our BJJ Bangkok academy.
To understand Mackenzie Dern’s success in the UFC, you must first understand where she comes from. Her prowess isn’t a recent development; it’s the result of a lifetime lived on the mats.
1.1: A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Lineage
Mackenzie Dern is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu royalty. Her father is Wellington “Megaton” Dias, a living legend of the sport and one of the few individuals to hold the rank of 8th-degree coral belt. Dern was practically born in a gi. She began training at the age of three, learning the fundamentals of the art from her father, her first and most important master. This upbringing immersed her in the deep philosophy of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—not just the moves, but the concepts of leverage, timing, and control that separate it from all other martial arts.
1.2: A Grappling World Champion
Before she ever stepped into the Octagon, Mackenzie Dern conquered the grappling world. Her resume is staggering and firmly establishes her expertise. She is a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion in the gi at every single belt level, a feat few have ever accomplished.
However, her crowning achievement in pure grappling is arguably her 2015 ADCC World Championship victory. The ADCC (Abu Dhabi Combat Club) is the Olympics of submission grappling, bringing together the best wrestlers, jiu-jitsu practitioners, and grapplers on the planet in a no-gi ruleset. Her victory there solidified her status as one of the greatest female Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters of all time, proving her skills were just as lethal without the gi as they were with it.
1.3: The Transition to MMA
With nothing left to prove in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world, Dern set her sights on the ultimate proving ground: Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). She made her professional debut in 2016, and the anticipation was immense. But the transition is notoriously difficult. She had to learn an entirely new skillset: striking, footwork, and, most critically, takedown defense and offense against the cage.
Early in her UFC career, she faced challenges. Her striking was a work in progress, and opponents knew their only path to victory was to keep the fight standing. But with each fight, she adapted. She learned to use her striking not necessarily to win the stand-up battle, but to close the distance and get the fight into her world—the ground. Her latest victory is the culmination of this evolution, showing a more complete fighter who now dictates where the fight takes place.
The Fight Breakdown: Behind the Submission
Dern’s victory on October 4th was a masterclass in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategy. Her opponent, a dangerous and credentialed striker, had a clear game plan: keep Dern at the end of her jab and avoid the clinch at all costs. For the first round, the plan worked. But in the second, the inevitable happened.
2.1: The Setup – Getting the Fight to the Ground
The opponent, wary of Dern’s takedowns, overextended on a right cross. This was the fractional mistake Dern was waiting for. She didn’t shoot a desperate, telegraphed double-leg. Instead, she ducked under the punch, secured a powerful body lock, and initiated a clinch.
Pressed against the fence, her opponent fought frantically to create space, but Dern’s control was vice-like. Instead of muscling for a takedown that wasn’t there, Dern executed a perfect inside trip, wrapping her leg around her opponent’s and using the cage to drive her off-balance. They didn’t just fall; they collapsed into Dern’s world, landing directly in half-guard. The entire sequence, from closing the distance to securing a dominant position on the ground, was a beautiful example of adapting Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for the cage.
2.2: Positional Dominance – The “Position Before Submission” Philosophy
Here, we saw the core principle of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in action: “Position Before Submission.” Dern did not rush. She did not immediately hunt for a finish from an inferior position. She was methodical.
First, she established control from half-guard, using her shoulder pressure (a “cross-face”) to make her opponent uncomfortable and pin her flat. Her opponent, desperate, tried to “shrimp” (hip escape) away. Dern anticipated this, effortlessly passing the half-guard and sliding her knee across the belly.
This knee-on-belly position is a devastatingly painful and controlling one. It immobilizes the hips and concentrates all of Dern’s body weight onto a single point, restricting her opponent’s breathing. This pressure forced a reaction. Her opponent had no choice but to turn away, exposing her back. This is the essence of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu strategy: using one dominant position to “force” your opponent into an even worse one.
This entire sequence is a textbook example of the Marcelo Silva Martial Art philosophy. It’s not about jumping on the first available armbar; it’s about a systematic, suffocating advancement of position. You secure control, apply pressure, and let the opponent’s own escape attempts provide you with the path to victory.
2.3: The Submission – The Finishing Technique
Once Dern took the back, the end was near. She immediately secured her “hooks”—placing her feet on the inside of her opponent’s thighs to control her hips. She then established a “seatbelt” grip (one arm over the shoulder, one arm under the armpit, hands clasped).
Her opponent, to her credit, knew the danger and began to “hand-fight,” desperately trying to peel Dern’s hands away from her neck. Here, Dern showed her championship-level detail.
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Isolating the Defense: She used her “over-the-shoulder” hand to trap one of her opponent’s defensive arms at the wrist.
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Securing the Choke: With that hand momentarily occupied, her “under-arm” hand (the choking arm) had a clear path. It snaked under the chin.
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The Finish: She locked her choking hand onto her own bicep, and her other hand went behind the opponent’s head to apply maximum pressure. This is the Mata Leão, or Rear-Naked Choke.
The beauty of the technique was its flawlessness. There was no gap. Her hips were tight to her opponent’s back, her head was tight to her opponent’s head, and the squeeze was precise. It wasn’t a “crank” on the jaw; it was a clean blood choke, cutting off circulation via the carotid arteries. Within seconds, the tap came.
2.4: Lessons from the Win
What can we learn from this? This victory wasn’t magic. It was the result of relentlessly drilling fundamentals. The inside trip, the guard pass, the knee-on-belly, and the rear-naked choke are all techniques taught in the first few months of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Dern’s genius lies in her perfect execution of these basics under the brightest lights and most intense pressure. This is the skill that is forged in the gym, day after day. It’s a skill that anyone practicing at a BJJ Bangkok academy can develop through consistent training, drilling, and sparring.
The Bigger Picture: Why Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Remains the Most Dangerous Martial Art in MMA
Dern’s win is a powerful reminder of a lesson the world first learned at UFC 1. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu isn’t just a martial art in MMA; it is the essential martial art.
3.1: From Royce Gracie to Today
When Royce Gracie, a small, unassuming man in a gi, entered the first-ever UFC, he changed the fighting world forever. He systematically dismantled and submitted larger, stronger opponents who were specialists in striking arts like Karate and boxing. He proved that most fights, regardless of how they start, end up on the ground. And on the ground, the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner is king.
Decades later, the sport has evolved, but this core truth remains. Every single fighter in the UFC, from the most technical kickboxer to the most powerful wrestler, must have a deep understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. If they don’t, they have a glaring, fatal hole in their game.
3.2: The Grappling Threat – The Unseen Pressure
The true power of an elite Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter like Mackenzie Dern isn’t just what she does on the ground; it’s the effect her ground game has on the stand-up fight.
Her opponent knew she couldn’t go to the ground. This fear created a tangible pressure. It made her hesitant to throw combinations. It made her keep her hips back, compromising her striking power for fear of a takedown. It forced her to over-commit on the punch that ultimately led to the clinch.
This is the unseen weapon. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt’s threat completely changes the striking dynamic. In contrast, a pure striker with no ground game feels no such pressure. They can strike freely until the fight hits the mat, at which point they are completely lost. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu‘s influence extends to every single second of the fight, standing or on the ground.
3.3: Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu as the “Lingua Franca” of the Ground Game
Think of MMA as a conversation between different styles. Muay Thai is the language of striking in the clinch. Wrestling is the language of takedowns. But Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is the lingua franca—the universal language—of the entire ground game.
A wrestler might be an expert at getting the fight to the ground, but they use Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu principles (like an arm-triangle or guillotine) to get the finish. A striker might be an expert at stand-up, but they must use Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (like shrimping and framing) to get back to their feet.
You cannot survive in modern MMA without being “fluent” in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. This is why the principles of Marcelo Silva Martial Art are so critical. We don’t just teach a collection of random moves. We teach the deep “grammar” of this language: the concepts of leverage, position, and control that connect every technique. When you understand the grammar, you can create your own “sentences” and respond to any situation, just as Dern did.
From the World Stage to Your Gym: Applying Dern's Principles to Your Training
It’s tempting to watch a performance like Dern’s and think, “She’s a world-class athlete; that’s not for me.” But this is the wrong takeaway. Her victory was a triumph of fundamentals, and those same fundamentals are available to everyone.
4.1: Back to Basics
Dern won with a pass, a dominant position, and a rear-naked choke. She didn’t use a flashy, low-percentage, spinning submission. She used the highest-percentage techniques in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu arsenal. Her victory is the ultimate argument for mastering the basics.
In your own training, focus on perfecting the fundamentals. How is your guard pass? Is your side control truly controlling, or just “holding on”? Can you finish the rear-naked choke from every angle? This dedication to the basics is the true secret to high-level jiu-jitsu.
4.2: The Importance of Live Sparring (Rolling)
You can drill a rear-naked choke on a compliant partner a thousand times, but it’s not the same as trying to apply it to a resisting opponent who is fighting for their life. This is why live sparring, or “rolling,” is the cornerstone of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Rolling is what builds the instincts Dern displayed. It’s where you learn to feel an opponent’s weight shift, to anticipate their escape, and to recognize the split-second opening for a submission. This is the “laboratory” where technique is pressure-tested and refined into real skill. Training at a quality BJJ Bangkok academy provides a safe, controlled, and professional environment to conduct these experiments and forge your skills under realistic pressure.
4.3: Your Journey in Bangkok
Here at our academy, we build our curriculum on these exact principles. We are deeply rooted in the philosophy of Marcelo Silva Martial Art, which prioritizes the conceptual understanding of jiu-jitsu. We don’t just show you what to do; we explain why you are doing it.
When you train with us, you’ll learn the same concepts of positional control and submission hunting that world champions use. You’ll understand why knee-on-belly works, how to use pressure to create openings, and when to transition from one position to the next.
The Marcelo Silva Martial Art philosophy is about this deep, fundamental understanding. It’s what allows our students, whether their goal is self-defense, fitness, or competition, to watch a fight like Mackenzie Dern’s and not just see a scramble, but to see the intricate, technical chess match unfolding.
We believe in the potential of every student who walks through our doors. The principles of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are universal. Under the right instruction, which is the heart of Marcelo Silva Martial Art and our BJJ Bangkok academy, anyone can learn to apply them.
Conclusion
Mackenzie Dern’s spectacular submission victory on October 4th was more than just another win. It was a clear, undeniable demonstration of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu‘s power and preeminence in the world of MMA. It proved, once again, that a master of the ground game operates on a different level, turning the chaos of a fight into a methodical and inevitable path to submission.
Her success is not unattainable magic. It is the product of a lifetime dedicated to mastering fundamentals—the same fundamentals taught every day in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu academies around the world. Her win shows us that with consistency, dedication, and the right instruction, these powerful skills can be learned.
Don’t just be a spectator. Don’t just admire the technique. Turn your admiration into action. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to possess that level of control and confidence, your journey can start today.
We invite you to our BJJ Bangkok academy for a free trial class. Come and experience the Marcelo Silva Martial Art philosophy for yourself. Start your journey and discover the power, confidence, and community that only Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu can provide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: Who is Mackenzie Dern and why is she famous in the BJJ world? A: Mackenzie Dern is an American-Brazilian MMA fighter and a legendary Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. She is a multiple-time IBJJF World Champion and a prestigious ADCC World Champion, which are the two highest honors in the grappling world. This has cemented her reputation as one of the greatest female BJJ competitors of all time.
Q2: Is Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu really effective in modern MMA? A: Absolutely. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu has proven to be one of the most essential martial arts in MMA since UFC 1. BJJ skills allow a fighter to control an opponent on the ground, defend from bad positions, and win a fight via submission, even if the opponent is stronger or a better striker.
Q3: What does the “Position Before Submission” principle mean? A: “Position Before Submission” is a core philosophy in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. It means a practitioner should first secure a dominant and controlling position (like the mount or back control) before attempting a submission. This methodical approach maximizes the chances of a successful finish and minimizes risk.
Q4: How can training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Bangkok help me understand elite-level fights? A: Training Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in Bangkok will allow you to learn and practice the same fundamental principles used by world-class fighters. When you understand concepts like positional control, defense, and submission setups from your own training, you will be able to watch and analyze high-level fights with a much deeper level of insight.
Q5: What is the main focus of Marcelo Silva Martial Art? A: Marcelo Silva Martial Art emphasizes a deep understanding of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fundamentals. It prioritizes positional control, efficient movement, and high-percentage submissions. The teaching philosophy is focused on creating well-rounded practitioners who can apply BJJ effectively in any situation, from sport competition to self-defense.
Don’t Be Scared, Be Prepared
While these BJJ moves for Halloween have scary names, they are a beautiful demonstration of leverage and control. The best part about training a Martial Art like BJJ is not just learning how to apply these moves, but also learning the critical skills to defend against them and stay safe.
Ready to learn more than just a few spooky submissions? Come join us at BJJ Bangkok and start your journey!
Training Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in Bangkok offers not just physical benefits, but mental and social rewards as well. Avoiding these common beginner mistakes will help you build a solid foundation and enjoy the long-term benefits of BJJ.
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