Mackenzie Dern crushed it this year. In jiu-jitsu, women's fights are just as compelling (sometimes more so) than men’s, and Dern’s matches were some of the most dramatic and entertaining of the year.

In the world of jiu-jitsu, size and strength is not the best measure of success. Dern, a competitor in the featherweight division (58 kg / 129lb), did some tremendous things, proving that technique really can conquer all.

Here we present Dern’s highlights of 2015, by far her best career year to date.

Dern Finds Fuel for Success in Failure

2015 did not start with a bang for Dern. She came close enough to taste gold at the IBJJF European Championships in January but fell short in both her weight category and the openweight division, losing to Michelle Nicolini and Gabi Garcia respectively. If anything, this seems to have given her the motivation to succeed, as she won gold in every major tournament for the rest of the year.

Result: Double silver featherweight (-58kg / 129lb) and openweight divisions.

Gold at Pans: A Sign of Things to Come

The IBJJF Pan Jiu-Jitsu Championships rolled around in March, and Dern had obviously used the two months since the Euros to focus on the job at hand. Aggressive as ever, she took gold by beating Tammi Musumeci in a thrilling final, winning via kneebar.

Result: Gold medal featherweight (-58kg / 129lb) division, silver medal openweight division.

Revenge At World Pro, and Double Gold to Boot

The Abu Dhabi World Pro Jiu-Jitsu Championship in April is one of the toughest and hotly-contested tournaments in the world – not to mention, one of the most prestigious. Dern conquered two huge hurdles in winning double gold, beating Michelle Nicolini in her weight class and besting Gabi Garcia in the absolute.

Result: Double gold -55kg / 121lb and openweight divisions.

Top of the World!

Dern was crowned champion once again – this time at the IBJJF World Championships in May, meeting Nicolini in the finals for the third time in four major tournaments. This time, Dern’s relentless attacks opened up a guard pass late in the match.

Latching on to Nicolini’s back, she secured a choke for the tap with one minute remaining, a fitting finish to such an incredible match.

Result: Gold medal featherweight (-58kg / 129lb) division, bronze medal openweight division.

Super Dern Steamrolls Super League

When FIVE Grappling put together their invite-only Super League in August, they selected eight of the toughest female competitors for an 8-woman knockout tournament in the gi.

Dern steamrolled her opponents one after the other with a succession of submissions, choking Tammi Musumeci in her opening round, kneebarring Fabiana Borges, and slapping a tight toehold on Karen Antunes in the final.

Result: Champion

All Guns Blazing at ADCC

Photo: Hywel Teague

The ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships only comes around once every two years, and in August it arrived in Sao Paulo, Brazil. This was Dern’s first time in action on the travelling bi-annual spectacle, but that didn’t deter her from doing what she does best, which is tearing through the pack en route to the top of the podium.

She overcame Kethe Engen (via toehold), bested Gracie Humaita teammate Beatriz Mesquita via decision and outpointed Michelle Nicolini in a back-and-forth final.

Result: Gold medal -60kg division.

Dern Wastes No Time at No-Gi Worlds

November’s IBJJF World No-Gi Championships was one of Dern’s best performances of the year. Showing no sign of fatigue from a tough year of non-stop competing, she tore through her division in double-quick time winning every match by submission, with her quickest match shorter than an Instagram video.

She fell short in a major upset in the finals of her division, losing to Tammi Musumeci on points, but redeemed herself with a sub-three minute submission of Alliance’s Andressa Correa in the absolute finals to cap off her best year as a black belt.

Result: Gold medal openweight division, silver medal featherweight (-58kg / 129lb) division.

What's Next?

What does 2016 have in store for Mackenzie Dern? Well she's already announced her intention to fight MMA and her training is well underway. But we certainly hope that she sticks around on the grappling scene in the meantime – BJJ just wouldn't be the same without her.