Several UFC fighters aren’t very well-versed in the English language. Fans have often witnessed such fighters using a translator for their interviews. The known UFC strawweight, Mackenzie Dern, also used a translator during her first-ever UFC in-Octagon interview at UFC 222. But a large chunk of fans started trolling her after this interview for a specific reason.

A look at the video of the incident will reveal that it was noted UFC color commentator Joe Rogan who conducted Mackenzie Dern’s first-ever in-Octagon interview. Despite her translator rephrasing Rogan’s words in Portuguese, the 31-year-old went on to answer Rogan in fluent English. Well, this incident may have created confusion among several fans about Dern’s native language. Is it also the reason her accent sounds a bit different from most Americans?

Why does Mackenzie Dern have an accent now?

Most of Mackenzie Dern’s followers and a lot of other UFC fans know that she is a well-accomplished Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu athlete. Although her fame may have significantly increased after joining the UFC, she was also quite famous during her BJJ days. But the accent in which she speaks English now has considerably changed from the early days of her combat sports.

During Dern’s initial days in BJJ, she spoke with an accent that sounded a lot more American. However, most fans might say that her current accent sounds like a Brazilian speaking English. There are a few videos that showcase this change in the 31-year-old’s accent. Quite understandably, the fans who knew about her American accent were further startled when she spoke in Portuguese in her UFC 224 post-fight Octagon interview with a translator.

Well, Dern has enough reasons to have a Brazilian accent since her roots trace back to Brazil. It was her father, Wellington ‘Megaton’ Dias, who migrated from Brazil to the USA during his professional days as a BJJ instructor. Dern was born and lived all her life in Arizona. Hence, a lot of fans might have found it quite unbelievable how she changed her natural American accent to one containing a heavy Brazilian tone.

Well, nobody can really say why she opted to go for such a change. But her next rival, Amanda Ribas, is a native Brazilian who packs enough to put her skills to the test. But before we get to that fight, let’s take a look at Mackenzie Dern’s early life.

About Mackenzie Dern’s background and early life

While competing in BJJ, as we’ve already mentioned, Mackenzie Dern won several honors at the national and international levels. Her training never stopped while traveling back and forth between Brazil and the United States. Interestingly, her stepmother is a black belt as well. At a time when Dern was as physically imposing as other girls, she’d take on much bigger opponents. Perhaps, that is what shaped her to go down the path of MMA – her fearlessness.

On the other hand, Mackenzie Dern has quite a few siblings – two younger half-brothers and a brother and sister of her own family. It’s not known if her siblings also follow the martial arts path, but if they do decide to go down the same path as her, they’re surely going to get noticed, given that Dern is quite popular in the MMA fandom.

Mackenzie Dern has recently earned a victory after two consecutive losses and has all the momentum she needs to take on Amanda Ribas, who’s had a mixed record of late. Do you think she’ll get the better of the Brazilian native? Drop your comments below.