Mackenzie in photo by John Lamonica

A current world champion, the unstoppable Mackenzie Dern has done it again, winning the Rio Open purple belt absolute division.

After stepping down from the podium, the Gracie Humaitá featherweight spoke with GRACIEMAG.com about the achievement.

“I’m really pleased. At weight I had two tough matches, one against Gislene Duarte, who I’ve faced before, and this time I won by choke. In the absolute I had three matches. The first two I finished by choke too, and in the final, against Suelen Tobias (GFTeam), I won by referees’ decision. It was a really tough match!” said Mackenzie, the girlfriend of top competitor and IBJJF ref Augusto Tanquinho.

Mackenzie, em foto de John Lamonica.

Campeã mundial em 2011, a pequena indomável Mackenzie Dern fez de novo, e faturou o absoluto roxa no Rio Open no Tijuca Tenis Clube.

Após descer do pódio, a peso-pena da Gracie Humaitá comentou o feito com o GRACIEMAG.com.

“Fiquei muito feliz, no peso tive duas lutas muito duras, uma contra Gislene Duarte, com quem já tinha lutado, e desta vez consegui vencer no pescoço. No absoluto, fiz três lutas. Nas duas primeiras, finalizei no estrangulamento também, e na final, contra Suelen Tobias (GFTeam) venci na decisão dos juízes. Luta muito dura!”, vibrou a namorada de Augusto Tanquinho.