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Mackenzie Dern, Virna Jandiroba Set for Vacant Strawweight Title Rematch at UFC 321

Zhang Weili’s move to flyweight opened the door for a five-years-on rematch, with Dern leaning on visualization as she seeks to convert elite grappling credentials into UFC gold.

Overview

  • The co-main event in Abu Dhabi on Oct. 25 crowns a new 115-pound champion as Dern and Jandiroba run back their 2020 bout, which Dern won by unanimous decision.
  • Dern says she has visualized Dana White raising her hand with her daughter beside her, framing mental preparation as a key focus in fight week.
  • Jandiroba enters on a five-fight winning streak and says she expects Zhang Weili to eventually return to test the division’s new champion.
  • Dern has rebuilt momentum with consecutive wins, including a submission of Amanda Ribas, and carries the UFC women’s second-most submission finishes into her first title shot.
  • UFC 321 is headlined by Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, with Dern–Jandiroba determining the first strawweight titleholder since Zhang vacated to challenge Valentina Shevchenko at flyweight.