Virna Jandiroba showed why she’s one of the top contenders at strawweight, scoring a one-sided win over Tabatha Ricci in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 115.
Jandiroba got off to a strong start, grabbing a hold of Ricci and scoring a pair of takedowns, making Ricci work back to her feet and out of her grasp. Ricci started to find the mark, working combinations and a couple of knees, but Jandiroba got behind Ricci and brought her back to the mat with more dominating control.
Jandiroba did some striking to start round two, which set up a takedown that resulted in Jandiroba dominating most of the second from the ground. Ricci attempted to do damage from the bottom, but it was for naught.
Ricci attempted to get the offense going in the third, but it was for naught. Jandiroba held her own on the feet and scored another takedown late in the third, nearly securing a choke in the closing seconds, to take the decision victory.
Virna Jandiroba Defeats Tabatha Ricci At UFC Vegas 115
Jandiroba with another great grappling performance. It may not be the most entertaining at times, but you just have to appreciate how dominant she is when the fight hits the floor. Sheâs beaten four of the top 10 fighters. #UFCVegas115
Ricci is just consistently off balance when she strikes. Looked panicky when dealing with Virnaâs pressure as well. Never looked settled tonight. Bad pick by me. đ€Šđ»ââïž
29-28 Virna Jandiroba. Too little too late for Baby Shark. Jandiroba too big and just an overall better grappler. Ricci would really benefit if the UFC opened up the atomweight division, she's just too small for 115. #UFCVegas115
Ricci was there for a fight and instead just had someone lay on them for 7 minutes. That style is about as interesting as watching paint dry. Hopefully Virna doesn't ever get another main event. Garbage fight.
This was Jandiroba’s first fight since losing a women’s strawweight title bout with Mackenzie Dern at UFC 321. Jandiroba had won five straight before that fight.
With Weili Zhang vacating the UFC women’s strawweight championship to challenge Valentina Shevchenko in three weeks, it is now the Mackenzie Dern era at 115. She pulled off a decision win over Virna Jandiroba in the competitive co-main event of UFC 321 to claim the gold.
The opening round proved to be a close one, with Jandiroba pressuring Dern throughout with grappling. Dern, despite being her jiu-jitsu expertise, managed to land well with her strikes, doing some notable damage. A similar story played out for the second round.
Dern mixed things up in the third round, pressuring Jandiroba to the fence while adding in her striking. Even from her back, Dern appeared to be doing more despite getting taken down on a number of occasions. Jandiroba controlled most of the fourth round, despite ending it on her back, but Dern’s striking helped her win the fifth round and take a decision victory.
Two judges scored the bout 48-47, while the third totaled it 49-46.
Mackenzie Dern Defeats Virna Jandiroba For Vacant Strawweight Title At UFC 321
Mackenzie Dern has done it. A UFC champion. What a wild road it's been.
People can say what they want, but Mackenzie Dern was clearly trying to win that fight. She pushed the pace & stayed aggressive, while Jandiroba never really tried to take over. She had her moments and takedowns, but no real urgency. Still, 49â46 for Dern was a stretch.#UFC321
UFC 321 is here, and we here at MMA News are here to provide you the latest on betting odds for the card.
The card takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, on Saturday, October 25. The pay-per-view main card portion of the event will start at 2PM ET/11AM PT, with preliminary action starting at 10AM ET/7AM PT.
The headline attraction for the event will feature a UFC heavyweight championship matchup between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane.
The co-main event will see the vacant UFC women’s strawweight championship on the line as Virna Jandiroba rematches Mackenzie Dern.
The pay-per-view main card will also feature Umar Nurmagomedov taking on Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator with Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and Aleksandar Rakic facing Azamat Murzakanov.
UFC 321: Aspinall vs. Gane Betting Odds
Listed below are the latest betting odds for UFC 321 as of the start of the event, courtesy of DraftKings.
Main Card:
Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall (-345) vs. Ciryl Gane (+275)
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba (+124) vs. Mackenzie Dern (-148)
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (-625) vs. Mario Bautista (+455)
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (+160) vs. Jailton Almeida (-192)
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic (-125) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (+105)
Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast (-105) vs. Quillan Salkilld (-115)
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov (-225) vs. JunYong Park (+185)
Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (-130) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (+110)
Heavyweight: Valter Walker (-390) vs. Louie Sutherland (+310)
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (+130) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (-155)
Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (-520) vs. Chris Barnett (+390)
Flyweight: Azat Maksum (-500) vs. Mitch Raposo (+380)
Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (-500) vs. Mizuki (+380)
Weâre 24 hours away from UFC 321, and MMA News is here to bring you the video from the ceremonial weigh-ins for the card!
UFC 321 takes place on October 25 from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
The main event will see Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane. Aspinall became interim heavyweight champion at UFC 295 by defeating Sergei Pavlovich. He’d retain the interim title by defeating Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 and was then promoted to undisputed champion this past summer following the brief retirement of Jon Jones. Gane earned this title shot with his controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.
The UFC women’s strawweight champion will find a new owner in the co-main event, as Virna Jandiroba takes on Mackenzie Dern. This is a rematch from UFC 256, which saw Dern earn a decision win. Jandiroba has won five straight entering this fight, while Dern has won three of five.
The rest of the main card will see former bantamweight title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov face Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator between Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and a light heavyweight showdown featuring Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov.
The ceremonial weigh-ins present the last opportunity for opponents to face off before they meet inside the Octagon. Check them out below via the UFCâs official YouTube channel!
We are just one day away from UFC 321, and weâve got the official weigh-in results for you here at MMA News.
UFC 321 takes place from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, featuring a number of noteworthy names topped off with two title fights.
The main event will see Tom Aspinall make his first defense as undisputed heavyweight champion, as he takes on Ciryl Gane. Aspinall became interim champion with a finish of Sergei Pavlovich at UFC 295. He then retained the interim title by knocking out Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304 before being promoted to undisputed champion following the (brief) retirement of Jon Jones.
Gane, a former UFC interim heavyweight champion himself, earned the title fight with a controversial decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310.
A new strawweight champion will be crowned in the co-main event, as Virna Jandiroba takes on Mackenzie Dern. This will be a rematch of their fight from UFC 256 in December 2020, which saw Dern get the judges’ nod.
Jandiroba has won five straight, and she has won six of seven since the loss to Dern. Dern has had her ups and downs since their first fight, but she enters this fight off two straight wins and three wins in her last five fights.
UFC 321 Weigh-In Video, Results
UFC 321 takes place Saturday, October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The main card begins at a special 2 PM ET/11 AM PT start time, with the preliminary card starting at 10 AM ET/7 AM PT.
See above to watch the UFC 321 Weigh-In Show, and check out the full results below.
Main Card:
Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall (255) vs. Ciryl Gane (247.5)
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba (115) vs. Mackenzie Dern (115)
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov (136) vs. Mario Bautista (135.5)
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov (261.5) vs. Jailton Almeida (237)
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic (205) vs. Azamat Murzakanov (205.5)
Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast (156) vs. Quillan Salkilld (155.5)
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov (185.5) vs. JunYong Park (185.5)
Lightweight: L’udovit Klein (156) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (155.5)
Heavyweight: Valter Walker (244) vs. Louie Sutherland (264.5)
Early Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood (146) vs. Jose Miguel Delgado (147*)
Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab (265) vs. Chris Barnett (261)
Flyweight: Azat Maksum (129**) vs. Mitch Raposo (125.5)
Women’s Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim (116) vs. Mizuki (115)
*Delgado missed weight, penalty TBD **Maksum missed weight, fined 30 percent of his purse
UFC star Virna Jandiroba is ready to make her dreams come true in the co-main event of UFC 321 this weekend.
On Saturday night, Virna Jandiroba will go head to head with Mackenzie Dern for the UFC strawweight championship. In their first meeting five years ago, it was Dern who managed to come out on top – but this time around, the stakes are much higher, and Jandiroba is well aware of that.
The Brazilian sensation has slowly but surely been churning her way up through the rankings and now, at the age of 37, she’s ready to finally achieve the goal that she’s been shooting for ever since entering the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Of course, it’ll be easier said than done, but she is prepared for whatever Dern can throw her way.
Virna Jandiroba is ready to live out her dream
“It’s very good, you know? And dreaming, dreaming is very good. But achieving is even better. So seeing everything happen and living this moment for me is a tremendous fulfillment and that’s it.
“I think it is a huge personal and professional achievement. I’m very happy to be here. Dream of winning… do better. You know, we’ve been on this journey for a long time and finally on Saturday we’re going to be able to finally do it. And that’s a thing. It was a long road but now I’m finally here. I’m here to take the belt on Saturday.”
Get ready, fight fans, because Jandiroba is coming to take it all.
The UFC brings a pair of title fights to its annual October pay-per-view outing in Abu Dhabi this Saturday for UFC 321. Get yourself ready and in the know with another edition of MMA News staff fight predictions.
The event will be available exclusively on ESPN pay-per-view on Saturday, October 25. The main card will begin at a special 2pm ET start time, with preliminary card action kicking off at 10am ET.
The main event will see the UFC heavyweight championship — and the title of baddest man on the planet — on the line as Tom Aspinall defends against Ciryl Gane.
This will be Aspinall’s first defense of the undisputed heavyweight title. He was promoted to undisputed champion after Jon Jones’ (brief) retirement in June; UFC CEO and President Dana White announced the move at the UFC Baku post-fight press conference. Aspinall had initially defeated Serghei Pavlovich at UFC 295 to become interim heavyweight champion, and he retained that interim title by finishing Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Gane enters this fight off a controversial split decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. Gane has previously been interim heavyweight champion, defeating Derrick Lewis at UFC 265, but he has lost in undisputed title fights against Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones.
The co-main event will see a new champion crowned in the women’s strawweight division, as Weili Zhang will vacate the gold to move up and challenge Valentina Shevchenko at women’s flyweight next month. At UFC 321, either Virna Jandiroba or Mackenzie Dern will be crowned the new 115-pound champion.
This will be a rematch from UFC 256, which saw Dern win via decision. Jandiroba has won five straight and has won six of seven since the loss to Dern. Jandiroba enters this fight off a decision win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April. Dern has won her last two and three of five, entering off a victory over Amanda Ribas in January.
The rest of the main card will see a bantamweight scrap between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator featuring Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeieda, and light heavyweight clash featuring Aleksandar Rakic and Azamat Murzakanov.
UFC 321: MMA News Staff Predictions
With UFC 321 just a couple of short days away, Ryan Jarrell, Pranav Pandey, and myself (Thomas Albano) have provided our picks for the fights that make up the main card.
Below, you can check out the current leaderboard through ten cards in 2025.
Pranav Pandey (27-20) Thomas Albano (27-20)
Ryan Jarrell (25-22)
And now, let’s take a look at everyone’s picks for UFC 321!
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Images: UFC.com, Zuffa
Pranav Pandey: This could turn out to be an intriguing striker-versus-striker battle. Aleksandar Rakic has hit a rough patch in his last three fights, though all of them were against former champions. âRocketâ remains a dangerous competitor with sharp stand-up skills and the experience of facing top-tier opponents. Azamat Murzakanov, on the other hand, carries the aura of a knockout artist and remains undefeated, but he hasnât yet been truly tested against elite competition in the division. That experience gap could play in Rakicâs favor. I see this fight being competitive and capable of swinging either way, but in my opinion, Rakicâs experience give him the slight upper hand to walk away with the win. (Prediction: Rakic)
Thomas Albano: This is an interesting battle. On one hand, Aleksandar Rakic has experience and layoff that heâs currently on a three-fight losing streak and hasnât had a win since 2021. Meanwhile, Azamat Murzakanov is on an impressive winning streak and continues to score highlight finish after highlight finish. On the other, Rakicâs losses in his current skid have come against Jan Blachowicz, Jiri Prochazka, and Magomed Ankalaev. Murzakanov, meanwhile, has not faced that kind of competition yet. I donât have the greatest of feelings on this fight, but Iâll say Rakicâs experience helps get him a much-needed victory. This is as long as he keeps his distance and lands from there, while perhaps looking for opportunities to score takedowns. My fear is he gets into a firefight, and Rakic gets cracked. Hopefully Rakic has the IQ to stick to the smart gameplan. (Prediction: Rakic)
Ryan Jarrell: The last win that Alexander Rakic had in the UFC was his UD win over Thiago Santos all the way back in 2021. âRocketâ has now lost three fights in a row and is desperate for a win. He has a tall task in front of him because Azamat Murzakanov is undefeated and is finishing people in impressive fashion. Rakic has the skillset to be the first man to hand Azamat a loss. But I just donât think he will be able to get it done here. Murzakanov is used to sharing the cage with high level competition and he will be ready for what Rakic brings to the octagon on fight night. (Prediction: Murzakanov)
Consensus: 2-1 Rakic
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
Images: UFC.com, UFC/YouTube
Pranav Pandey: Alexander Volkov makes his return to the Octagon nearly a year after the fight against Gane that slipped through his fingers. Even as he approaches the later stages of his career, the Russian has shown noticeable improvements in his striking, and his devastating reach continues to be a major asset. On the other side, Jailton Almeida is a dangerous and fresh challenger with slick submission skills. If he can weather Volkovâs striking storm and close the distance, I think Almeida could take this fight into his grappling world and look for a submission finish. (Prediction: Almeida)
Thomas Albano: Some are disappointed that Alexander Volkov is even in this title eliminator situation to begin with because they felt he defeated Ciryl Gane at UFC 310. Unfortunately for them and him, this is the reality heâs in. Heâs going to be taking on Jailton Almeida, whose grappling game has been proven to be dangerous for a weak UFC heavyweight division. This a huge opportunity for the rising Almeida; however, if Volkov continues to look the way he has of late, itâs not going to be easy. Volkovâs reach is always an issue, and his striking has looked on point in his most recent fights. Even at his age, heâs making one last (realistic) case for securing a title shot. And that might turn to reality here. Just like the light heavyweight showdown that opens the main card, experience wins here. (Prediction: Volkov)
Ryan Jarrell: This is such an intriguing matchup. The length of Alexander Volkov is always such a tricky puzzle to figure out. Volkov looked really good in his most recent fight with Ciryl Gane which ended in a split decision loss and left a lot of people upset at the judges decision. Almeida will be a very different stylistic matchup, but one that âDragoâ could very well pass. Both men are in their mid thirties so the time is now or never. I donât feel confident one way or the other and I think this fight could end in a split decision. But Iâll take Volkov to have the bigger moments and win a tightly contested fight of the night candidate. (Prediction: Volkov)
Consensus: 2-1 Volkov
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This matchup is a tricky one for me to predict. Umar Nurmagomedov has looked nearly unstoppable since joining the UFC, but his aura of invincibility took a hit when he faced the reigning bantamweight champion, Merab Dvalishvili, at UFC 311. In that fight, his signature weapon, the relentless takedown game, got neutralized, and his overall composure seemed to unravel. I think Mario Bautista, who in my opinion is one of the most relentless and quietly consistent fighters in the division, will try to replicate that same blueprint. His style may not be the flashiest, but itâs efficient and often enough to get the job done. I can see this fight turning into a back-and-forth battle where Bautista pushes the pace early and keeps Nurmagomedov uncomfortable throughout. In my opinion, Bautistaâs work rate and pressure could be the deciding factors here, and Iâm leaning toward him pulling off a gritty win. (Prediction: Bautista)
Thomas Albano: I think the common theme in this fight amongst those in MMA media making predictions is that Mario Bautista cannot be overlooked â whether you think heâs winning this fight or not. Bautista is on such a hot streak right now as he makes his way up the rankings, and if he pulls off the upset here, you have to imagine thatâd earn Bautista a title eliminator â if not a title shot itself. But, Nurmagomedovâs grappling is next level, of course, and he nearly secured the bantamweight title himself by taking Merab Dvalishvili to the limit like no one has before since the start of the current champâs long win streak. I expect Bautista to put up a strong effort but think itâs too much too quick in this case. (Prediction: Nurmagomedov)
Ryan Jarrell: The odds on this fight is a little surprising to me. Last I checked Umar was a -625 favorite which seems a little disrespectful to a guy in Bautista who has done nothing but beat elite competition. Mario is on a 8 fight win streak with wins over Jose Aldo, Ricky Simon and most recently, Patchy Mix. I am fully aware how good Umar is but I expect this fight to be a close one. Bautista is severely underrated and just might be the toughest matchup for the dominant champion. Give me Mario Bautista to surprise the MMA world and pull the upset here via split decision. (Prediction: Bautista)
Consensus: 2-1 Bautista
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: Mackenzie Dern got the better of Virna Jandiroba when they first met nearly five years ago at UFC 256, but a lot has changed since then. Dern has definitely added new layers to her game and shown flashes of improvement, yet her performances still feel hit-or-miss. That inconsistency makes it hard for me to back her with confidence this time around. On the other hand, âCarcarĂĄâ has been on an absolute tear, putting together a dominant five-fight win streak against some top-level competition. Despite being a bit older than Dern, I think Jandiroba is the more complete fighter at this stage, more composed, and more calculated. With the strawweight title now up for grabs, I expect her to come in with extra fire and finally get her revenge. (Prediction: Jandiroba)
Thomas Albano: This is a rematch of their UFC 256 bout in December 2020, which saw Dern come away with a decision win â though if you ask some MMA fans, theyâd feel that wasnât the right call. Most MMA media, however, agreed with Dern getting the nod, and most are expecting sheâll get the nod again when they meet in a five-round fight with vacant gold on the line. While Jandiroba is an excellent grappler, sheâs going to be in for a ride to try and do battle with the expert level, world championship caliber jiu-jitsu of Dern. Additionally, Dern has made strides in her striking, albeit itâs still not the greatest, and she has the power, size, and strength to give Jandiroba a hard time with pressure. All the signs in this one say Jandiroba puts up a fight, but itâs Dern who walks away the new champ at 115. (Prediction: Dern)
Ryan Jarrell: Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba met five short years ago and now the two top strawweight fighters will vie for the vacant strap in the co main event of a very exciting main card. The first go round saw Dern win a unanimous decision and I expect the same to happen in the rematch. Jandiroba has 14 submission victories in her career, but Dern is an elite BJJ practitioner and has never been submitted in her professional MMA career. I believe the physicality and strength that Dern possesses will help her win in the 50/50 scrambles and allow her to out point her way to the victory and title. (Prediction: Dern)
Consensus: 2-1 Dern
Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
Images: UFC.com
Pranav Pandey: This oneâs a pretty easy call for me, Iâm rolling with Tom Aspinall all day. Donât get me wrong, Ciryl Gane is one of the most skilled heavyweights on the roster, but I just donât see anything in his overall game that poses a serious threat to the reigning champ. âBon Gaminâ has looked slick in moments, but over the last couple of years, many of his performances have felt flat and uninspired, even in victory. Aspinall, on the other hand, is a complete package – fast, explosive, and absolutely lethal wherever the fight goes. I think he overwhelms Gane early with his pressure and speed, and I wouldnât be surprised if we see a quick finish. In my opinion, Gane wonât be able to survive that early onslaught for long. (Prediction: Aspinall)
Thomas Albano: Itâs a shame this fight isnât taking place in Europe. Because while I know not everyone is excited about this fight, itâs still a heavyweight title fight and it features two of the best fighters out of that continent right now. That said, thereâs clearly one better fighter here, and thatâs the current heavyweight champion, Tom Aspinall. Aspinall is a stud because heâs light on his feet with power in his hands. Can he take out Gane with power like he has most of the heavyweight division? Sure. But Gane is skilled and powerful on the feet as well. I see Aspinall pressuring Gane before ultimately doing the very same thing that Francis Ngannou and Jon Jones did in their title fights against Gane â get the fight to the ground. I expect Aspinall to score a takedown and finish the fight in the first round with either a submission or a TKO through some brutal ground-and-pound. (Prediction: Aspinall)
Ryan Jarrell: I am convinced that Tom Aspinall will go down as the greatest heavyweight the sport has ever seen. He obviously has the power of an elite heavyweight. But what may be more impressive is he moves like a welterweight. I just truly believe he is too dynamic for anyone in the division right now including Ciryl Gane. I will be shocked if this fight sees the second round and I expect Tom to finish Gane more impressively than Jon. (Prediction: Aspinall)
Consensus: 3-0 Aspinall
Thatâll do it for our UFC 321 staff picks! What do you think? Do your predictions look similar? Let us know in the comments section!
Also, you can check out the full UFC 321 card below.
Main Card:
Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Preliminary Card:
Lightweight: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Quillan Salkilld
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. JunYong Park
Lightweight: L’udovit Klein vs. Mateusz Rebecki
Lightweight: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo
Early Preliminary Card:
Heavyweight: Valter Walker vs. Louie Sutherland
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
UFC 321 is just a couple of days away, featuring a pair of title fights headlining the show. Time to stir the pot more and gain more hype for UFC 321, courtesy of a good olâ fashion question-and-answer session.
The 11th UFC pay-per-view event of the year goes down from the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday, October 25.
UFC 321 will be headlined by Tom Aspinall defending the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane.
The co-main event will see a new UFC women’s strawweight champion crowned when Virna Jandiroba rematches Mackenzie Dern.
The rest of the main card features a bantamweight battle between Umar Nurmagomedov and Mario Bautista, a heavyweight title eliminator featuring Alexander Volkov and Jailton Almeida, and a light heavyweight showdown as Aleksandar Rakic takes on Azamat Murzakanov.
Watch The UFC 321: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane Pre-Fight Press Conference
As per tradition, the UFC pay-per-view main card participants will be featured in a press conference during fight week. This is the opportunity for fighters to answer questions from media and fans, as well as potentially lay in some smack talk on their opponents.
UFC 320 is in the books, meaning attention will soon turn to the mixed martial arts leaderâs next pay-per-view offering, UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
The promotion was in Las Vegas last week, where the T-Mobile Arena played host to a number of intriguing matchups for its nine numbered event of the year. Of note were headline wins for Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalishvili, as well as important victories for Jiri Prochazka, Youssef Zalal, and Joe Pyfer.
While the aftermath of the October 4 card is currently the talk of the town, it won’t be long until focus sways to the next PPV, and from the light heavyweight and bantamweight championship title pictures to the heavyweight and women’s strawweight championship conversations.
At UFC 321, which takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE, on October 25, Tom Aspinall will defend the UFC heavyweight championship against Ciryl Gane.
This will mark Aspinall’s first defense of the undisputed UFC heavyweight championship. He had been promoted from interim to undisputed champion during the UFC Baku post-fight press conference back on June 21 — the result of a long, drawn-out negotiation process involving him, the UFC, and Jon Jones. Aspinall defeated Serghei Pavlovich for the interim heavyweight championship at UFC 295 and retained the interim belt against Curtis Blaydes at UFC 304.
Gane is 13-2 and has won three of his last five. He comes into this bout off a split decision win over Alexander Volkov at UFC 310. Gane defeated Derrick Lewis to become an interim UFC heavyweight champion at UFC 265 in 2021. He has challenged for the heavyweight title twice since, losing to Francis Ngannou at UFC 270 and to Jon Jones at UFC 285.
Stakes will also be high in the co-main event, as a vacant women’s strawweight championship will be on the line, thanks to Weili Zhang moving up to challenge Valentina Shevchenko at women’s flyweight. UFC 321 will see Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern scrap in a rematch to determine the new champion. Dern previously scored a decision win over Jandiroba at UFC 256. Jandiroba enters this fight on a five-fight win streak, most recently scoring a decision over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314. Dern, meanwhile, has won three of her last five, most recently submitting Amanda Ribas in a rematch that headlined UFC Vegas 101 in January.
Nurmagomedov, Volkov, Rakic Set The Stage For Heavyweight Title Headliner At UFC 321
Before Aspinall, Gane, Jandiroba, and Dern make their way out for their title fights, several names will look to make their own statements on the main card for UFC 321.
This includes Umar Nurmagomedov, who will be doing battle with Mario Bautista. This will be Nurmagomedov’s first fight since coming just short of capturing the UFC bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311, suffering the first loss of his MMA career in the process. Bautista, meanwhile, has won eight straight, which includes defeating UFC Hall of Famer Jose Aldo at UFC 307 and former Bellator bantamweight champion Patchy Mix at UFC 316.
A heavyweight title eliminator will also be featured on this card, as Alexander Volkov takes on Jailton Almeida. Volkov will be looking to rebound from the previously mentioned split decision loss to Gane, a fight that snapped a four-fight win streak for Volkov. Almeida, meanwhile, has won two straight and 17 of 18, coming into this bout off a performance bonus-earning finish of Serghei Spivac at UFC 311.
The main card is scheduled to open with Aleksandar Rakic taking on Azamat Murzakanov. Rakic has lost three straight, most recently dropping a decision to now-former light heavyweight champion Magomed Ankalaev at UFC 308, which was last year’s Abu Dhabi pay-per-view card. Murzakanov is undefeated at 15-0, most recently finishing Brendson Ribeiro at UFC 316 in June.
Those pairings have currently gotten the nod to feature on the main card over the likes of Ikram Aliskerov, Mateusz Rebecki, and Nathaniel Wood, all of whom are expected to be featured players on the event’s preliminary card.
See below for the UFC 321 lineup, as it stands.
Main Card:
Heavyweight Championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
Women’s Strawweight Championship: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern
Bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
Light Heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov
Preliminary Card (Order TBA):
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. Jun-yong Park
Lightweight: Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo
Mackenzie Dernâs title opportunity turned out to be just as much of a surprise to her as it was to many fans.
UFC CEO Dana White confirmed last week that strawweight champion Zhang Weili has relinquished her belt to pursue two-division glory, setting up a superfight with reigning flyweight queen Valentina Shevchenko in the co-main event of UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
With Zhang stepping aside, Dern now finds herself booked for a high-stakes rematch against former rival Virna Jandiroba, as the two collide for the vacant 115-pound crown in the co-main event of UFC 321 on October 25 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Mackenzie Dern Reveals Surprise Discovery Of Title Shot On Instagram
During a recent appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Mackenzie Dern opened up about her upcoming strawweight title clash with Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321.
The No. 5 ranked contender admitted she was aware a championship opportunity was on the horizon, be it for interim gold or the undisputed crown, but revealed she discovered the final verdict at the same time as everyone else when the UFC made its announcement public.
“[The UFC] were kind of talking about the interim belt, and that was maybe three weeks ago, four weeks ago,” Dern said. “They were talking about it, but weren’t sure if they were going to do it. Then [we found out], ‘OK, they’re going to do it, [so] we’ll wait until they announce it.’ And then I found out by Instagram that it was going to be for the actual belt when Dana announced it.
“I texted [my manager] Tiki [Ghosn], ‘Wait, is it the real belt or the interim belt?’ [He said,] ‘Oh, it’s the real belt.’ So that was very recent, the change. We were happy with the interim belt â it’s still a belt and would be the next step to getting the [undisputed] belt. But the fact that it’s for the real belt definitely puts an extra happiness and gratefulness on it.”
"I found out by Instagram that it was going to be for the actual belt when Dana announced it."@MackenzieDern found out she'd be fighting for the strawweight title at the same time as everyone else. pic.twitter.com/ObeDLNR3lZ
Dern most recently competed at UFC Vegas 101 in January, where she avenged a previous setback against Amanda Ribas with a third-round submission victory. The 32-year-old American-born Brazilian has gone 4-4 over her past eight outings and currently owns a 10-5 record inside the UFC Octagon.
Following the confirmation that Weili Zhang will be moving up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, a new UFC women’s strawweight champion will be crowned at UFC 321, as Virna Jandiroba faces off with Mackenzie Dern.
UFC CEO and President Dana White confirmed the news on Instagram Live before a confirmation graphic posted to the UFC on social media.
White confirmed in the same announcement stream the end of Zhang’s second reign as champion, finalizing the long-awaited showdown between she and Valentina Shevchenko for the latter’s 125-pound title in the co-main event of UFC 322, three weeks after UFC 321.
Zhang defended the strawweight title three times in her second reign as champion, defeating Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Tatiana Suarez.
Virna Jandiroba And Mackenzie Dern To Fight At UFC 321 To Determine New Strawweight Champion
Jandiroba has won five straight and six of her last seven fights. Her two most recent victories are two of the names Zhang defeated in her second title run; Jandiroba defeated Lemos in the main event of UFC Vegas 94 in July 2024 and Xiaonan at UFC 314 in April.
Dern, the former grappling and jiu-jitsu world champion, has won two straight and three of her last five. Dern comes into this fight off a bonus-earning, buzzer-beater submission of Amanda Ribas in the main event of UFC Vegas 101 this past January.
White also announced Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista will be added to the main card of UFC 321. Nurmagomedov’s previous-unbeaten record came to an end at UFC 311 in January, falling just short of claiming the bantamweight title from Merab Dvalishvili. Bautista has won eight straight, most recently defeating Patchy Mix at UFC 316.
UFC 321 takes place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on October 25. The main event will see Tom Aspinall defend the UFC heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane.
Virna Jandiroba may very well be next in line to challenge UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang after she came away with a dominant unanimous decision win over former title challenger and No. 1-ranked contender Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314.
Grappling was the key for Jandiroba in this one. Though her initial attempts to get the fight to the ground were denied, when she was able to, she was dominant and had significant top position time. What else was notable was how each round ended similaly — with Jandiroba threatening an armbar, and Xiaonan being saved by the horn.
Virna Jandiroba Dominates Yan Xiaonan En Route To Decision Win At UFC 314; Is She Next For Strawweight Title Fight?
Xiaonan looked to bring her striking on display, especially on the third round, but it was not enough. Jandiroba had been the clear aggressive fighter for nearly all of the fight, forcing Xiaonan on the defensive nearly all fight.
All three judges scored the fight for Jandiroba 30-27.
Jandiroba has now won five straight after a 3-3 start to her Octagon career.
Xiaonan was coming off a win over Tabatha Ricci. She challenged Zhang for the strawweight title 364 days ago at UFC 300, losing a decision.
Barring a surprise challenger for champion Zhang Weili, it appears that the UFC strawweight title won’t be on the line again in 2024.
Having put in two bonus-worthy performances since making her long-awaited comeback in early 2023, Suarez was tipped by many to be next in line for Zhang, who last defended her belt opposite Yan Xiaonan at the milestone UFC 300 event this past April.
Should recent reports come to fruition, however, neither woman has been given the assignment. Instead, they’ll have to battle one another for it.
According to Brazilian outlet Ag. Fight, a clash between the #1- and #3-ranked strawweight contenders is set to take place on the UFC 310 card at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena on December 7.
Jandiroba (21-3), meanwhile, has found winning form following an inconsistent 3-3 start to life in the UFC. After defeats to Carla Esparza, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas stalled her rise, the Brazilian has gone on her longest winning run on MMA’s biggest stage, outpointing Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez before a bonus-winning submission of former title challenger Lemos in what marked her main event debut.
Suarez vs. Jandiroba joins a light heavyweight matchup between Anthony Smith and Dominick Reyes as the second fight reported for UFC 310 on Dec. 7.
And in the aftermath of UFC Fight Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba, MMA News has you covered with this weekâs updates to the official UFC rankings.
Menâs Pound-For-Pound: No changes.
Womenâs Pound-for-Pound:Â Jandiroba’s submission of Lemos in Saturday’s main event has advanced both her divisional and P4P ambitions. The Brazilian has debuted in the latter list at #13, one spot behind the climbing Kayla Harrison. The defeated Lemos, meanwhile, has dropped three positions to #15, while flyweight contender Maycee Barber has fallen out entirely.
Womenâs Strawweight: At 115 pounds, Jandiroba finds herself two spots better off at #3 courtesy of her efforts at the Apex. Lemos has made way for that rise and now occupies her recent opponent’s formerly occupied #5 place.
Flyweight: Bruno Silva mounted a memorable comeback this past weekend to knock out fellow American Top Team standout Cody Durden. He’s been rewarded with an entry into the 125-pound rankings at #15, with his defeated teammate now out of the top 15.
Bantamweight:Â While he’s had to wait an extra week, Montel Jackson’s 18-second knockout of Da’Mon Blackshear in Denver has netted him the #15 position in the division. His arrival has led to the removal of longtime veteran contender Pedro Munhoz.
“The Tajik Tank,” who was defeated on the preliminary card of Jandiroba’s main event, made some negative remarks about the women’s side of mixed martial arts last week, branding it a “break” to go to the bathroom during cards.
“Well, I don’t watch it, no matter who is fighting,” Radzhabov told Red Corner MMA. “Actually, when women fight, I take a break to get some snacks or go to the toilet.”
Jandiroba Tells Radzhabov To Get Help To ‘Overcome Issues’
During her post-fight press conference on Saturday night, Jandiroba reflected on her first headline victory in the UFC and reacted to Radzhabov’s comments about her and other women competing in MMA’s premier promotion.
In a brief response to the remarks, the Brazilian strawweight suggested Razhabov has “issues” that only a specialist would be able to solve.
“I’m not someone that is going to be able to help him, but maybe he needs to go get some analysis. You know, find a therapist that is going to help him overcome those issues that he has. There is probably something there that he needs to sort out and he is going to have to find a specialist to do it.”
Having fallen to 2-2 in the UFC courtesy of a decision setback at the hands of Trey Ogden on July 20, Radzhabov will hope to bounce back next time out to avoid a losing record inside the Octagon.
Virna Jandiroba may have proven herself worthy of the next shot at UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili thanks to a submission win over former title challenger Amanda Lemos in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night main event.
Jandiroba looked to utilize her grappling from the get-go, scoring an early takedown and battling with her fellow Brazilian for top position and submission attempts. “Carcara,” a grappling expert, managed to lock in an armbar and submit Lemos during round two.
“The fight went in the best scenario I could imagine,” Jandiroba said through a translator at the post-fight press conference. “I was for sure going to try to take it to the ground, and I was able to do it and find the submission.”
Virna Jandiroba Confident She Can Get Title Shot, Beat Zhang Weili After UFC Fight Night Main Event Win
Jandiroba, a former Invicta strawweight champion, has now won four straight and five of her last six fights. Entering this weekend’s UFC Fight Night at No. 5 in the strawweight rankings, there is a good chance she could be next in line for a title shot.
Jandiroba, in fact, called out Zhang in the Octagon following her victory. And at the post-fight conference, Jandiroba expressed how her unique fighting style can help lead her to a win â let alone a title fight â that plenty previously doubted could happen.
“My style’s a little different,” Jandiroba said. “The way that I grapple is a little strange. I know my wrestling is very effective, my jiu-jitsu is very good, but it’s not like you can say, ‘Oh, she’s like a proper wrestler.’ But I make it work.
“And within the weirdness of everything that I do, I think that I create problems for most people, and thatâs how I can beat her. With the weirdness, that’s how I get my arm raised.”
Virna Jandiroba could now be in prime position to challenge Weili Zhang for the strawweight championship following a submission win over former title challenger Amanda Lemos in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night.
Jandiroba scored a takedown in the opening minute of the fight, looking to do what she does best. Lemos, however, had an arm around the neck and looked for a guillotine. The 36-year-old escaped, however, and remained in top control. A couple of minutes later, Lemos looked to scramble, only for Jandiroba to reverse and look for a leg lock. The longtime contender responded in kind with a toe hold.
Lemos landed some notable striking during that opening frame between scrambles, and she tried to bring out her striking again and focused on that in the second round. However, Jandiroba scored another takedown a couple of minutes into the round and got to Lemos’ back in a scramble.
In the closing seconds of the round, the #5-ranked contender locked in an armbar and scored the submission.
Virna Jandiroba Submits Amanda Lemos In Headlining UFC Fight Night Strawweight Battle
Jandiroba has now won four straight and five of her last six. She called for a title fight in her post-fight interview and will likely be alongside Tatiana Suarez as one of two logical next challengers for the Chinese champ.
Lemos, meanwhile, is now 1-1 since losing a strawweight title fight with Weili Zhang at UFC 292 nearly one year ago.
UFC Fight Night took place tonight from the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, and MMA News has you covered with all the results and highlights!Â
In the main event, top-five ranked strawweights Amanda Lemos (#3) and Virna Jandiroba (#5) clashed. While in the co-main event, Steve Garcia faced Seungwoo Choi in a featherweight matchup.Â
UFC Fight Night Results: Main Card
Womenâs Strawweight Main Event: Virna Jandiroba def. Amanda Lemos via submission: R2, 4.48Â
Featherweight: Steve Garcia def. Seungwoo Choi via TKO: R1, 1.36
Lightweight: Kurt Holobaugh def. Kaynan Kruschewsky via unanimous decision (29-28×3)
Flyweight: Bruno Silva def. Cody Durden via TKO: R2 2.58
Featherweight: Dooho Choi def Bill Algeo via TKO: R2, 3.38
Featherweight: Hyder Amil def. JeongYeong Lee via TKO: R1, 1.05
Preliminary Card
Bantamweight: Cody Gibson def. Brian Kelleher via submission: R1, 3.58
Womenâs Flyweight: Miranda Maverick def. Dione Barbosa via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-27×2)
UFC Fight Night: Amanda Lemos vs. Virna Jandiroba takes place on Saturday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!
Before crossing the pond for its latest pay-per-viewevent in Manchester, England, the promotion will host yet another low-key card from the Apex facility in Las Vegas.
After the women’s flyweights took center stage last weekend in Denver, the July 20 event sees strawweights under the main event spotlight, as former title challenger Amanda Lemos looks to continue working her way back to the belt at the expense of another Brazilian contender in Virna Jandiroba.
Elsewhere on the lineup, the likes of “The Korean Superboy” Dooho Choi and undefeated featherweight Hyder Amil are among those set to be in action.
UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba Weigh-In Results
UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Jandiroba takes place on Saturday, July 20, at the Apex facility in Las Vegas, Nevada. The main card begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the preliminary card starting at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
See above for a replay of the weigh-ins via MMA Junkie, and check out the full results below!
Main Card:
Women’s Strawweight Main Event: Amanda Lemos (116lbs) vs. Virna Jandiroba (115.5lbs)
Middleweight: Brad Tavares (185.5lbs) vs. Junyong Park (186lbs)*
Featherweight: Steve Garcia (144.5lbs) vs. Seungwoo Choi (145lbs)
Lightweight: Kurt Holobaugh (155lbs) vs. Kaynan Kruschewsky (154lbs)
Flyweight: Cody Durden (125.5lbs) vs. Bruno Silva (126lbs)
Featherweight: Dooho Choi (146lbs) vs. Bill Algeo (146lbs)
Preliminary Card:
Featherweight: JeongYeong Lee (145.5lbs) vs. Hyder Amil (145lbs)
Bantamweight: Brian Kelleher (136lbs) vs. Cody Gibson (136lbs)
Women’s Flyweight: Miranda Maverick (125.5lbs) vs. Dione Barbosa (125.5lbs)
Lightweight: Loik Radzhabov (155.5lbs) vs. Trey Ogden (156lbs)
Women’s Flyweight: Luana Carolina (125.5lbs) vs. Lucie PudilovĂĄ (126lbs)
Heavyweight: Mohammed Usman (236.5lbs) vs. Thomas Petersen (258.5lbs)
*The co-main event between Brad Tavares and Junyong Park was canceled after both fighters had weighed in due to a medical issue on the side of Park
