When Mackenzie Dern steps into the Octagon on October 25 at UFC 321, she won’t just be fighting Virna Jandiroba for the vacant strawweight belt; she will also be wrestling with something far more personal. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist has always been accompanied by her daughter, Moa , on her journey, from training sessions to fight nights. However, despite the significance of the occasion, the six-year-old may not be allowed a seat at cageside this time around.

Dern and her ex-husband, professional surfer Wesley Santos , divorced in 2022 after a rocky split. While the two share custody of Moa, disagreements about parenting decisions remain, and they appear to be spilling over into her fight week. What makes the situation especially difficult for Dern is that Moa has been a c

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