Mackenzie Dern’s victory at UFC 321 on October 25, 2025, was more than a championship win — it was the culmination of years of grit, reinvention, and personal resilience. At 36, she became the UFC women’s strawweight champion after a unanimous decision over Virna Jandiroba in Abu Dhabi, marking one of the most meaningful moments of her career. But while the world celebrated her crowning achievement, the story outside the cage — her marriage to UFC middleweight Antonio Trocoli — has captured just as much public attention.
Questions about who her husband is, where their relationship stands, and how recent events have affected her family life continue to swirl. Here’s the full, clear picture of Mackenzie Dern and Antonio Trocoli’s story.
Who Is Mackenzie Dern’s Husband?
Mackenzie Dern’s husband is Antonio “Malvado” Jose Trocoli da Silveira Filho, a 34-year-old Brazilian UFC fighter competing at middleweight. Known for his height, reach, and submission skills, Trocoli holds a 12–3 professional record and trains at MMA Lab in Arizona. His career has seen highs — such as his 2019 win on Dana White’s Contender Series — and lows, including a first-round submission loss to Tresean Gore at UFC Vegas 100 in November 2024.
In 2025, Trocoli made unexpected headlines for something far outside mixed martial arts: he became the first active UFC fighter to reach a World Series of Poker final table, finishing sixth and taking home $122,330. His reputation as a poker-savvy, calm competitor added a new dimension to his public persona.
Trocoli and Dern married by late 2024, a year after her divorce from Brazilian surfer Wesley Santos. Their relationship had all the hallmarks of a promising fresh start — shared Brazilian roots, parallel careers, and early social-media affection — but the story quickly grew more complicated.
The Rise and Strain of Their Relationship
Following her divorce from Santos in 2023, Dern was open about wanting stability, especially as she balanced motherhood with a demanding fight schedule. Trocoli entered her life during that transition, and their chemistry appeared immediate. In early 2024, fans saw glimpses of them training together, laughing together, and blending their lives in the MMA world.
But toward the end of 2024, followers noticed a sharp shift. Dern quietly removed photos of Trocoli from her Instagram and unfollowed him. Trocoli did the same. This digital silence — often a modern sign of turmoil — prompted widespread speculation about the state of their marriage.
That speculation deepened when an off-the-mat incident thrust Trocoli into the headlines.
The Custody Exchange Incident
On October 4, 2024, Trocoli was arrested in Huntington Beach for misdemeanor battery after an altercation with Dern’s ex-husband, Wesley Santos, during a custody exchange for Moa, Mackenzie’s daughter. Witnesses and video evidence reportedly showed Trocoli striking Santos after an argument escalated. Santos also alleged previous threatening behavior.
The Orange County District Attorney’s office has not yet filed charges, but the case remains under review.
For Dern, who has openly struggled with co-parenting tensions in the past, the incident added another emotional layer — one she had to navigate while preparing for the biggest fight of her career. Her ability to push through the noise and still deliver a championship performance speaks volumes about her focus and mental toughness.
Mackenzie Dern: Champion, Mother, Pioneer
Separate from her marriage, Mackenzie Dern’s life story is one of relentless achievement.
Born in Phoenix to Brazilian parents, the daughter of BJJ legend Wellington “Megaton” Dias, Dern was raised on the mats. Before she ever stepped into an Octagon, she conquered the world of Brazilian jiu-jitsu, becoming an ADCC world champion.
Her win at UFC 321 made her the first woman in history to hold both ADCC gold and a UFC title — a feat that cements her legacy.
In Abu Dhabi, after a grueling five-round battle with Jandiroba, Mackenzie placed her new belt on the shoulders of her daughter, Moa, calling her the “good luck charm.” It was the most human moment of the night — tears, joy, motherhood, everything at once.
Dern now holds a 16–3 professional record and is on a five-fight win streak whenever Moa is cageside. Financially, her net worth sits around $2.5 million in 2025, supported by fight purses, bonuses, and endorsements with brands like My Protein and War Tribe.
Whether married, separated, or somewhere in between, it’s clear that Mackenzie Dern’s fiercest identity is as a mother and champion.
Clearing Up Confusion About Her “Husband”
A wave of misinformation online has mixed up Dern’s personal connections. To clarify clearly:
- She is not married to UFC fighter Bobby Green.
- She was previously married only to Wesley Santos, her ex-husband and father of her daughter.
- Her current and only confirmed husband is Antonio Trocoli.
Any rumors beyond that — including supposed alimony controversies or relationships with other fighters — have no evidence behind them.
Mackenzie and Antonio Now: What’s Known
As of late 2025, Mackenzie Dern and Antonio Trocoli’s relationship remains unclear. Their mutual unfollowing, the disappearance of photos, and the October 2024 arrest point toward marital strain, but neither has issued a public statement confirming separation or divorce.
Dern’s focus appears firmly on her UFC reign and her daughter. Trocoli’s focus seems split between professional recalibration and resolving legal matters. Whether the couple reconciles or parts ways, their relationship reflects the reality of many fighters’ lives — intense careers, public attention, and personal challenges rarely seen from the outside.
Conclusion
The story of Mackenzie Dern and Antonio Trocoli is layered, real, and still unfolding. She is a newly crowned UFC champion, a devoted mother, and one of the most decorated grapplers ever to enter mixed martial arts. He is a UFC fighter with high highs and public lows, from World Series of Poker success to a difficult legal entanglement.
Their marriage has experienced both passion and turbulence, and while its future remains uncertain, one thing is clear:
Mackenzie Dern continues to rise.
In the cage, in motherhood, and in the face of personal adversity, she shows the resilience that made her a champion long before she wore the belt.