Weili Zhang vacates the strawweight championship to move up a weight class, and the title will be decided at UFC 321 in a co-main event pairing Virna Jandiroba against Mackenzie Dern. The event is set for October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.
Announcement: Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern for the Strawweight Title
The match-up marks a rare occasion where two former top contenders meet for the coveted title in what will serve as the co-main event of UFC 321. Dern and Jandiroba have previously faced each other, with Dern earning a unanimous decision victory at UFC 256. Jandiroba earned her shot by riding a five-fight win streak, most recently defeating former title challenger Xiaonan Yan. Dern will be challenging for the belt for the first time in her career following a submission win over Amanda Ribas earlier this year.
Full Card
– Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane, Heavyweight Title Fight
– Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern, Strawweight Title Fight
– Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista, Bantamweight Fight
– Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida, Heavyweight Fight
– Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov, Light Heavyweight Fight
– Chris Barnett vs. Hamdy Abdelwahab, Heavyweight Fight
– Ikram Aliskerov vs. Jun Yong Park, Middleweight Fight
– Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue, Strawweight Fight
– Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo, Lightweight Fight
What to watch and what it could mean
– This move shakes up the strawweight division by creating a new champion at 115 pounds, while Zhang sets sights on a higher weight class.
– Dern looks to translate previous momentum into her first title reign, building on her recent win over Ribas.
– Jandiroba aims to cap a dominant run with a belt, potentially cementing her as a top challenger in future matchups.
– The Abu Dhabi card features a loaded lineup across several divisions, with the women’s strawweight title adding extra intrigue to the event.
Summary
Weili Zhang’s decision to vacate the strawweight title opens a fresh chapter in the division, pairing Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern in a high-stakes clash for a vacant belt. The matchup revisits a prior negative space in their rivalry while offering a clear path to a new champion and another set of compelling title defenses for the future.
Comment
Who do you think takes the title in Abu Dhabi? Share your predictions and why you see this as a pivotal moment for the strawweight division. This event promises an action-packed card and a defining moment for two top contenders.