One of the best grapplers in the world is set to make her transition to mixed martial arts.
Mackenzie Dern, a jiu-jitsu black belt under her father Wellington "Megaton" Dias, signed a deal with Legacy FC and will make her MMA debut July 22 in Dallas, the promotion announced Thursday.
Dern, who won the IBJJF jiu-jitsu world championship and ADCC in 2015, competes between 127 and 132 pounds in jiu-jitsu and grappling. For her MMA debut, Dern told MMAFighting.com she will cut down to 115 pounds. The promotion has yet to announce an opponent.
"I hope I can represent jiu-jitsu well and put on a good performance," said Dern, who turns 23 years old on March 24.