Mackenzie Dern announces pregnancy, UFC career on hold

Bloodyelbow.com

Mackenzie Dern won’t be fighting anytime soon.

The UFC strawweight fighter announced Friday she is pregnant with her first baby. Dern is expecting with her boyfriend Wesley Santos.

“God makes everything so perfect!” Dern wrote in an Instagram post. “I am so happy to be able to share this news! I’m going to be a Mom! I love so much our family and now I have one more HUGE motivation for inside and outside the ring!!

“Thank you God for this blessing. I also want to thank all my fans and sponsors for the support during all the life phases and I can’t wait to be back in the ring!”

Dern did not say when exactly she is expecting, nor when she anticipates she’ll be able to return to MMA.

Dern is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu ace who turned pro in MMA in 2016. Undefeated in the sport, Dern made her UFC debut against Ashley Yoder last March at UFC 222, defeating Yoder by split decision. In her sophomore Octagon appearance, she submitted Amanda Cooper just two months later at UFC 224. Dern is currently 2-0 in the UFC.

Before the UFC signed Dern last year, she fought for smaller promotions including Invicta FC and LFA.