She’s Next – WMMA Weekly Preview

Each week, I’ll highlight one women’s prospect on my radar and in action in the upcoming days

Mackenzie Stiller
Record: 5-1
Weight Class: Strawweight
Age: 26 years old
Training: One Touch Fight Team
Combined opponents record: 25-8

 

Born on July 15, 1999, Mackenzie Stiller grew up practicing judo long before transitioning to mixed martial arts, a background that would later define much of her competitive identity. Fighting out of Woodstock, Illinois, she represents One Touch Fight Team & Academy, where she developed her MMA game under Brett Brendel. Her nickname “Mack-Judo” is not branding flair but a direct reflection of her sporting roots and competitive base.

 

Stiller turned pro in 2021 and immediately found success on the regional scene. Her first three bouts all ended in victories, including appearances under the Bellator banner. Wins over Chiara Penco and Maria Henderson helped introduce her to a wider audience. Both performances reinforced her effectiveness in grappling exchanges. By the end of her first year as a professional, she had already established herself as a finisher rather than a point fighter.

 

Her undefeated run came to an end in 2023 when she suffered a TKO loss. Rather than stalling her progress, the defeat coincided with a shift toward broader experience and more consistent activity. Stiller continued competing regularly, gaining cage time and exposure. She did so while refining her approach against increasingly seasoned opposition on the regional circuit.

 

In 2025, Stiller joined LFA, a move that placed her firmly on the radar of talent evaluators tracking future UFC prospects. Competing primarily at strawweight, she added multiple submission victories to her record, pushing her professional mark to 5-1.

 

Mackenzie Stiller is scheduled to face Kendra McIntyre on February 6 at LFA 226 in Clarksville, Tennessee. McIntyre has competed in LFA since 2023 and is best known for a third-round head-kick knockout victory at LFA 182, a finish that drew significant attention within the regional scene.

 

Stiller’s game is built around physicality, positional control, and a grappling identity that is already well-defined for her level of experience. Once the fight hits the mat, her top pressure immediately stands out. She is strong for her frame and knows how to apply that strength efficiently, pinning opponents flat and limiting scrambles. Her judo background shows up consistently through well-timed head-and-arm throws and clean trips, and she transitions quickly into dominant positions. From there, her control is patient but aggressive, with strong positional awareness and an excellent ability to keep opponents stuck on their back.

 

On top, Stiller shows real finishing instincts, something still relatively rare in WMMA. She actively hunts submissions rather than waiting for openings, chaining attacks with creativity and confidence. Bulldog chokes, armlocks, and unconventional setups appear naturally in her game. It’s supported by solid fundamentals and a brown belt level understanding of grappling mechanics. Her elbows from the top position add another layer of threat. Her willingness to commit to finishes reflects a fighter who is comfortable forcing outcomes. That comfort likely comes from a strength of schedule that has pushed her into adversity early, giving her more seasoning than most fighters with a similar record.

 

On the feet, her striking remains functional rather than polished. She has a solid defensive base and uses kicks responsibly, but her offense remains raw and predictable. While she can be creative, throwing spinning attacks or superman punches, these techniques are low percentage and more opportunistic than structured. Her small frame and short 62-inch reach put her at a disadvantage in extended exchanges. Her reliance on judo-based takedowns makes her wrestling somewhat one-dimensional as well. Fighters with strong body-lock defense can stall her entries, forcing her into areas where her cardio and non-judo takedowns are still unanswered questions. Additionally, when reversed or placed on her back, she can take damage and is vulnerable to counters during submission attempts, particularly against opponents capable of lifting or slamming out of judo-based attacks.

 

This weekend feels like a real moment to check in on Mackenzie Stiller’s progression. She is already established in her strengths, but the intrigue lies in what she has added and refined. There is genuine excitement to see how the last few months of work translate once the cage door closes.