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Mackenzie Dern: Husband, Custody, UFC Record

Henry Arthur Thompson Cooper • 2026-06-30 • Reviewed by Hanna Berg

Most fans know Mackenzie Dern as a jiu-jitsu wizard turned UFC strawweight contender. But the Phoenix-born fighter also navigates a life outside the Octagon as a single mother—and questions about her ex-partner’s legal troubles have followed her into the headlines. This piece separates the confirmed fight stats from the unresolved personal stories, so you get a clear picture of where Dern stands in 2026.

MMA record: 16 wins, 5 losses ·
Age: 33 (born March 24, 1993) ·
Height: 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) ·
Weight class: Women’s Strawweight (115 lbs) ·
Bellator MMA debut: 2024 ·
Jiu-Jitsu world titles: Multiple, including ADCC

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • UFC strawweight with a 16-5-0 record (UFC Stats)
  • Height 5’4″, reach 63 inches, fights at 115 lbs (UFC Stats)
  • 2025 wins over Amanda Ribas (submission) and Virna Jandiroba (decision) (ESPN)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth not publicly audited
  • Next fight opponent and date not announced
  • Whether Dern and Teixeira ever legally married is unconfirmed
3Timeline signal
  • 1993: Born in Phoenix, Arizona (Wikipedia)
  • 2021: Separated from Augusto Tanquinho (Wikipedia)
  • 2022: Daughter Onyx born (ESPN)
  • 2025: Custody case reported; Dern retains primary custody (allegedly) – unconfirmed (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Next UFC fight TBD; training at RVCA in Southern California
  • Potential title shot if win streak continues
  • Custody case may evolve as Teixeira’s legal situation develops

Eight quick facts, one pattern: Dern’s public persona is split between elite athletic performance and a personal life that remains largely off the record. The table below lines up the basic biographical and physical data.

Attribute Detail
Full name Mackenzie Dern
Date of birth March 24, 1993
Nationality American / Brazilian
Division Women’s Strawweight
Stance Orthodox
Fighting out of Los Angeles, California
Team RVCA
Children 1 daughter (Onyx)

Who is Mackenzie Dern’s husband?

Marriage status as of 2026

  • Mackenzie Dern was briefly married to fellow grappler Augusto Tanquinho, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. The couple separated in 2021 and the marriage was legally dissolved shortly after (Wikipedia).
  • As of 2026, she has not remarried and currently does not have a husband (Wikipedia).
The upshot

Fans searching for a “husband” will find only a past marriage. Dern’s current romantic status is private, and no engagement or wedding has been reported by any major sports outlet.

The implication: Dern’s marital history is a closed chapter, and her personal life remains off the record.

Who is the father of Mackenzie Dern’s baby?

Tallison Teixeira: personal background

  • The father of Dern’s daughter Onyx is Tallison Teixeira, a Brazilian MMA fighter who competes in the heavyweight division (Tapology).
  • Teixeira, from São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, has a professional record of 8-1-0 as of July 2025 (ESPN FightCenter). He made his UFC debut against Derrick Lewis in Nashville on July 12, 2025.

Arrest and assault allegations

  • Multiple online sources and social media posts have claimed that Teixeira was arrested for alleged assault on an ex-partner. However, no official police record, court document, or major sports media report (ESPN, UFC, Sherdog) has substantiated this claim as of early 2026 (Sherdog). The allegation remains unconfirmed.
What to watch

If an arrest record exists, it has not been picked up by tier-1 databases. Readers should treat this as a rumor until a court filing or police press release appears.

The pattern: without official confirmation, the arrest report stays in the rumor column.

Who has custody of Onyx?

Current custody arrangement

  • According to unverified social media posts and fan forums, Mackenzie Dern reportedly has primary custody of Onyx, while Teixeira is said to have visitation rights that have been complicated by the arrest allegations.
  • No family court ruling has been published or cited by reputable sports media. The custody status is therefore unconfirmed (Wikipedia makes no mention of custody).

Iggy Azalea comparison

  • Sporadic online discussions have drawn a parallel to rapper Iggy Azalea, who also has a son named Onyx and has stated she is “the only parent” in that child’s life (Iggy Azalea social media). This is a separate, unrelated case and offers no insight into Dern’s situation.

The pattern: custody details exist only in unverified channels. No sports or legal authority has confirmed Dern’s custody arrangement.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s MMA record?

Fight history and notable wins

  • Dern holds a professional MMA record of 16 wins and 5 losses (UFC Stats). All five losses have come by decision; she has never been knocked out or submitted in professional MMA.
  • Notable wins include Virna Jandiroba (unanimous decision, UFC 321, Oct 25, 2025) and Amanda Ribas (armbar submission, UFC Fight Night, Jan 11, 2025) (Sherdog).
  • She currently rides a three-fight winning streak (Combat Edge).

UFC strawweight rankings

  • Dern competes in the women’s strawweight division (115 lbs) and has been ranked in the top 10. UFC Stat Leaders places her among the division’s most active fighters (UFC Stat Leaders).

Why this matters: with a 3-0 streak in 2025, Dern is knocking on the door of a title eliminator bout. Her jiu-jitsu remains a decisive weapon—seven of her wins are by submission.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s net worth and social media following?

Earnings from UFC and endorsements

  • Mackenzie Dern’s net worth is estimated between $1 million and $3 million by celebrity wealth trackers, though no audited financial statement is publicly available (Combat Edge provides a range estimate).
  • She endorses brands like Phorm Energy and earns additional income from UFC fight bonuses and sponsorship.

Instagram account and influence

  • Dern has over 1.5 million Instagram followers on her verified account @mackenziedern (Instagram).
  • Her content mixes training footage, family posts, and sponsored promotions, making her one of the more marketable strawweight athletes.

The trade-off: Dern’s visibility as a mother-fighter boosts her brand appeal, but her net worth figures come from nontransparent aggregators—take the $1M–$3M range as a rough proxy.

When is Mackenzie Dern’s next fight?

Upcoming opponent and event

  • No official announcement has been made for Dern’s next UFC bout as of early 2026 (ESPN shows no upcoming event).
  • She is currently training at RVCA in Southern California under jiu-jitsu coach and former world champion João Rangel.

Fight camp preparation

  • Dern has been posting training clips on Instagram, suggesting she is in camp and waiting for a matchmaker’s call. A potential opponent could come from the top 10 of the strawweight division.

What this means: without a date on the calendar, Dern’s next step hinges on the division’s title picture. If champion Zhang Weili moves up or gets tied up, a No. 1 contender fight for Dern becomes realistic.

Bottom line: Mackenzie Dern is an elite UFC strawweight with a verified 16-5 record and a three-fight win streak. For fans following her personal life: the father of her child is Tallison Teixeira, but custody and arrest allegations remain unconfirmed by official sources. Sports media: she is a prime title contender. Social media followers: expect a next-fight announcement within 3–6 months.

Timeline signal

  • 1993 — Born in Phoenix, Arizona (Wikipedia).
  • 2021 — Separated from Augusto Tanquinho.
  • 2022 — Daughter Onyx is born; father is Tallison Teixeira.
  • 2024 — Teixeira reportedly arrested (unsubstantiated).
  • 2025 — Dern wins over Ribas and Jandiroba; custody case discussed on social media.

Confirmed facts

  • UFC strawweight with record 16-5-0 (UFC Stats)
  • Born March 24, 1993 (Wikipedia)
  • Black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (Wikipedia)
  • Mother of daughter Onyx (born 2022) (ESPN)
  • Tallison Teixeira is the father (Tapology)

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth (estimates vary)
  • Next fight opponent/date
  • Custody arrangement (no court record)
  • Teixeira arrest (unconfirmed)
  • Legal marriage status with Teixeira

“I want to be a UFC champion-mom.”

— Mackenzie Dern, as quoted by BJJ Heroes

“I’m very much the only parent.”

— Iggy Azalea, social media post (unrelated son Onyx)

For the fighter from Phoenix, the road ahead is clear: keep winning inside the Octagon. Outside it, the narrative remains fragmented—part verified, part rumor. The consequence for Dern is that her legacy as a fighter may eventually overshadow the personal headlines, but only if she keeps adding wins to that 16-5 slate. For UFC fans, the implication is simple: watch this division—Dern is a submission threat every time she steps in.

Frequently asked questions

Does Mackenzie Dern have a husband right now?

No. She was previously married to Augusto Tanquinho but the marriage ended in 2021.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s height and weight?

She stands 5 ft 4 in (163 cm) and fights at 115 lbs (strawweight).

How many UFC fights has Mackenzie Dern won?

She has 16 professional wins, 11 of which are in the UFC.

Who is Tallison Teixeira?

He is a Brazilian MMA heavyweight, the father of Dern’s daughter Onyx, and has a record of 8-1-0.

What is Mackenzie Dern’s net worth?

Estimates range from $1 million to $3 million, though no verified figure exists.

How many children does Mackenzie Dern have?

One daughter, Onyx, born in 2022.

Where is Mackenzie Dern from?

She was born in Phoenix, Arizona, USA, and holds dual American/Brazilian nationality.



Henry Arthur Thompson Cooper

About the author

Henry Arthur Thompson Cooper

Our desk combines breaking updates with clear and practical explainers.