Updated: October 5, 2026
Mackenzie Dern has built a remarkable career as a Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion and UFC women’s strawweight titleholder. Fans often search for details about her personal life, especially questions around “Mackenzie Dern husband.” As of late 2026, the clear picture is this: she is not currently married. Her story involves a high-profile earlier marriage, a difficult divorce, a short subsequent relationship, and a strong focus on motherhood and her fighting career.
Table of Contents
Who Was Mackenzie Dern Husband?
Mackenzie Dern was previously married to Wesley Santos, a Brazilian professional surfer. The pair connected through shared interests in surfing and outdoor life. They became engaged around 2019 and welcomed their daughter, Moa, on June 9, 2019. Dern even paused her MMA career that year to focus on pregnancy and early motherhood.
Santos competed in events such as the SLO CAL Open and other professional surfing contests. For a time the couple presented a united family image, with Dern frequently sharing moments involving their young daughter. The marriage, however, did not last. They separated in 2022 and finalized their divorce in 2023.
The Divorce and Its Challenges
The end of the marriage was public and complicated. Both sides made serious allegations during the legal process. Dern later spoke openly about feeling unsafe in the relationship and the difficulty of protecting herself while also shielding her daughter. Santos denied the claims and offered his own account. Courts did not fully side with either party on the abuse allegations and instead focused on practical outcomes.
Key results included joint custody of Moa and financial arrangements that reflected Dern’s higher earnings as a professional athlete. She was ordered to contribute to certain costs and ongoing support. Despite the tension, both parents have continued co-parenting their daughter. Dern has repeatedly described Moa as a central motivation in her life and career.
Mackenzie Dern and Antonio Trocoli: A Short Chapter
After the divorce, Dern was linked to fellow Brazilian MMA fighter Antonio Trocoli (full name Antonio “Malvado” Jose Trocoli da Silveira Filho). Trocoli, a middleweight who has competed in the UFC and also found success in poker, trained at the same gym circles. Reports indicated the relationship became more public in 2024 and some sources at the time referred to them as married.
The connection faced significant strain in October 2024. Trocoli was arrested in Huntington Beach, California, on misdemeanor battery charges following an alleged altercation with Wesley Santos during a custody-related situation involving Moa. Santos provided a detailed public statement describing the incident. Subsequent coverage indicated the romantic relationship between Dern and Trocoli ended in the months that followed. By early 2025 and into 2026, reliable reports described Dern as no longer involved with Trocoli and not publicly dating.
Current Relationship Status and Family Focus
As of October 2026, Mackenzie Dern is single and not married. Recent profiles and interviews ahead of major title defenses emphasize her focus on training, defending her UFC strawweight championship, and raising Moa. She has spoken about the challenges of balancing elite competition with single parenthood and co-parenting responsibilities.
Here is a quick reference table of key facts related to Mackenzie Dern’s personal life:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Current marital status | Not married / Single |
| Former husband | Wesley Santos (professional surfer) |
| Marriage / Divorce period | Married ~2018–2019 era; divorced 2023 |
| Child | Daughter Moa (born June 9, 2019) |
| Later relationship | Antonio Trocoli (ended after 2024) |
| Primary public focus | UFC career, BJJ legacy, motherhood |
Key points fans often overlook:
- Dern’s Brazilian jiu-jitsu background and dual American-Brazilian identity shape both her fighting style and family values.
- Public interest in her personal life frequently spikes around fight week, yet she has largely kept recent private details offline.
- Co-parenting remains an active part of her daily reality even as her career reaches championship levels.
Conclusion
Mackenzie Dern’s journey shows the reality many high-level athletes face: intense public scrutiny of private relationships alongside professional excellence. She was married to surfer Wesley Santos, shares a daughter with him, briefly connected with fighter Antonio Trocoli, and is currently focused on her title reign and family without a husband. For the most accurate picture in 2026, the answer to “Mackenzie Dern husband” is simply that she does not have one at present. Her story continues to unfold both inside the octagon and as a dedicated mother.