Mackenzie Dern has been dealing with a great deal of pressure from the get go – it all stems from being a child of a respected and often revered athlete, her father Megaton Diaz.

Mackenzie recently spoke about the pressure of wanting to make her dad proud:

 “Certainly (had pressure). There was a lot of people, but I myself, for example, wanted to give a lot of pride for my father wanted him to think I was good, but no time has it. In fact even today I more feel pressure since I’m not so good at Judo like my father is. Mine is not good (laughs). The nickname (Megaton) even comes from Judo, and it applies very well the technical Jiu-Jitsu. being his daughter people expect me to be like him in that respect, but I am, and today the sport and very different, the girls pull to guard so fast that not even have time to nothing, “

Mackenzie is fresh off her successful MMA debut at Legacy FC against Kenia Rosas. But now there is a fresh challenge ahead as she’s headlining Fight To Win Pro 12 taking place tomorrow, September 17th.

Officially a pro MMA fighter 1-0! ? I won by unanimous decision! Was such a great learning experience and for sure I can say that I can’t wait to have another fight and growing as a fighter! Thank you to the best team in the world @themmalab !! I love you guys! Thank you to my whole family and all my friends!! Thanks to all my sponsors @wartribegear @studio540 @florianpicasso Thank you to my nutritionist @lockloadedmma Thank you to my manager @dannyrube For taking care of me! Thank you @mick713 and @legacyfighting for giving me the opportunity to Debut for such a great event! Thanks to my awesome corners @bensonhenderson @randysteinkemma Couch Crouch! Thanks to all the fans and supporters who are following along on my journey! And of course thank you o my opponent Kenia Rosas for a tough fight!! // Oficialmente uma lutadora profissional de MMA 1-0! Rs ? foi um grande aprendizado nem consigo esperar a hora de voltar e continuar crescendo como lutadora! Tenho muitas pessoas pra agradecer! Obrigada ao melhor time do mundo o MMA Lab! Amo vcs! Obrigada a todos meus patrocínios, meu nutricionista, meu Manager, meus coaches, o Legacy por me deixar estreiar num grande evento! Obrigada a todos meus fãs que estão me apoiando nessa journada! E agradeço a minha oponente Kenia pela grande luta!! Vou postar mais esses dias galera!! ? #cantstopwontstop

A photo posted by Mackenzie Dern (@mackenziedern) on Jul 23, 2016 at 9:50am PDT

Mackenzie is able to see how the sport is changing:

 “I think it is improving much (the sport). I see how my father is proud of me. He arrived in the United States of Brazil, was struggling and everything, doing seminars, lecturing, a thousand things to provide the best for our family. as for me, today, alive only sponsorship and championship pretty much. I do not need to teach to live, then it shows how Jiu-Jitsu is evolving in this direction. not everyone can live only athlete’s side, of course, but increasingly fighters have been able to. There’s still a lot to improve, but has also improved a lot. If previously it was difficult for men to women was more, and today we see respect for it, sports, media attention . Very cool, “

She will be facing Talita Alencar in the gi tomorrow. She previously fought Michelle Nicolini to a draw back at Metamoris 2 in a submission only setting and won against Rossie Snow at Fight To Win Pro 4 In Only 15 seconds. Shortly after – on October 14th she will be fighting wrestler Montana Stewart.