At the 2025 World Series of Poker Colossus, UFC’s Antonio Trocoli transformed a modest $500 buy-in into a six-figure payday, finishing in sixth place and taking home $122,330.
The Brazilian , who is married to UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern, made his presence felt at his first-ever final table appearance. Before this breakthrough performance, Trocoli’s poker resume was notably thin, with just one recorded live cash of $455 at the Brazilian Series of Poker in 2019.
Dern, ranked #6 in the UFC strawweight division, was visibly excited on the rail throughout the tournament. Her enthusiastic support created a lively atmosphere that even caught the attention of players competing in the $50K High Roller event nearby.
The couple’s celebration reached a crescendo early in the final table when Trocoli secured a crucial double-up. After suffering a tough beat when his AK lost to Ryan Leng’s KJ, Trocoli found himself all-in again with AK against Ramaswamy Pyloore’s pocket queens. The flop initially looked disastrous for Trocoli, but a dramatic turn and river card delivered his tournament-saving moment, prompting an emotional celebration with Dern.
The good fortune wouldn’t last forever, though. With just six big blinds remaining, Trocoli pushed all-in with king-ten, only to run into Pyloore’s pocket aces. Despite a tense moment when he picked up additional outs on the turn, Trocoli couldn’t find the needed card on the river and exited in sixth place.
Despite the elimination, Trocoli took the outcome in stride, smiling as he collected his six-figure payday – a sum that dwarfs his previous poker earnings and represents a significant financial boost for the couple.
Dern, a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt known for her exceptional ground game in the UFC, has been making waves outside the octagon as well. Recently, she was spotted at a Celebrity Poker Tour event where she gave viral internet personality Hailey Welch, known as “Hawk Tuah Girl,” an impromptu submission lesson using former NFL running back Adrian Peterson as a demonstration partner.
The substantial poker payday comes at an interesting time for the couple. Recent social media reports alleged Dern had been spotted working as a DoorDash delivery driver, sparking debate about UFC compensation. While Dern reportedly earned $200,000 for her UFC 298 appearance against Amanda Ribas earlier this year, the poker windfall provides a welcome additional income stream for the MMA couple.
The tournament was eventually won by Courtenay Williams, who claimed the bracelet and the top prize of $542,540, with Ramaswamy Pyloore finishing second for $361,690.
