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Megaton full blast

Megaton in the final against Welton Ribeiro. Photo: Gustavo Aragão

Wellington Dias, better known as Megaton, is one of the all-time biggest names of the International Master and Senior Championship. The fighter had won the competition every year since 2006, and he did so again this Saturday at the Tijuca Tennis Club.

“It’s a really great event that musters the old guard back on the mats and gives a chance to the athletes who have a harder time with the demands of the ten-minute fights of the adult division,” he tells GRACIEMAG.com, soon after receiving his gold medal.

However, a limited tank of gas is not a problem for this black belt, who this season took third in the European Championship.

“I’ll keep fighting in the adult division!” he guarantees.

“This is the only championship where I fight in my own division, because Royler (Gracie) asks me to. Gracie Humaitá has won the International five times. Last year we let it escape us, but now we want to get it back, so we have to always be at full strength,” he explains.

The fighter and teacher never takes a break. Teamed up with his daughter Mackenzie, who made her purple-belt debut at the Rio Open winning her weight group and the absolute after getting the submission in seven matches, Megaton has much competition road ahead of him.

“I fly out to the United States on Monday because I have to do a seminar in Colorado next week. Then I’ll compete at the American Nationals and then a competition in Sweden, the Scandinavian Open,” he says in finishing.

Little girl’s face, big person’s Jiu-Jitsu

Mackenzie shows off her medals in Rio. Photo: Gustavo Aragão

It wouldn’t be wrong to say Mackenzie Dern is another pretty face among the gentle art’s ladies. However, it would be wise to take into account the old saying “He who sees the face, doesn’t see the heart.” Behind her fair appearance, there’s an aggressive fighter, a promising athlete of the new generation.

Like father, like daughter. Mackenzie’s father is black belt Wellington Megaton, winner of the last five installments of the International Master and Senior tournament. By her doting father’s side, the fighter travels the world training, competing and winning. After winning the 2010 Worlds, she made her purple belt debut in grand style at the Rio Open.

“At the Worlds, as a blue belt, I got the submission in five matches in my weight division and took second in the absolute. At the Rio Open I got the submission in two matches in my weight division and another four in the absolute. Not bad, huh?!” said Mackenzie, who is following in the footsteps of her heroes.

“I get a lot of my inspiration from Letícia Ribeiro and Beatriz Mesquita. I like Ana Carolina Vidal a lot. It’s all about Gracie Humaitá!”

As it seems, there are many victories in store for the fighter in her future. And there’s no lack of projects.

“I want to always win the absolute and do well when I become a black belt, that type of stuff. I very much want, in the future, to open an academy just for girls. I think that would be really cool,” says Mackenzie in finishing.