Jiu-jitsu star Mackenzie Dern made her mixed martial arts debut Friday night, and scored a dominant victory.
The multiple-time grappling champion took on fellow MMA newcomer Kenia Rosas at Legacy FC 58 in Lake Charles, La., and wasted no time in the striking area. Dern rushed for a takedown seconds into the first round, quickly getting Rosas’ back and working on a rear-naked choke. Rosas’ submission defense was on point, allowing her to survive the constant attacks from the jiu-jitsu wizard.
The pressure continued in the second and third rounds, with Dern having no trouble taking Rosas to the ground and quickly improving to the mount.