Mackenzie Dern left everything inside the Octagon at UFC 321. After five hard-fought rounds against Virna Jandiroba, Dern walked away as the new UFC strawweight champion, claiming the vacant title once held by Zhang Weili.
The fight was close, technical, and full of grit, exactly what fans expected from two of MMA’s best grapplers. Dern ultimately earned a unanimous decision victory. It was enough to secure the belt, but even Dern admitted afterward that she wished she had sealed the deal more decisively.
“I felt like I did everything I could, but you never know with the judges,” Dern said at the post-fight press conference. “I wanted to win with a knockout or a submission so no one could say anything. With MMA, if you leave it to the judges, it could go either way.”
Despite her disappointment in not getting a finish, Mackenzie Dern made history in Abu Dhabi. She became just the second fighter ever, alongside Fabricio Werdum, to hold both ADCC and Jiu-Jitsu World Cup gold medals and a UFC championship.
Throughout the co-main event, Jandiroba looked to impose her wrestling, scoring multiple takedowns. However, Dern’s striking, pressure, and damage on the feet gave her the edge. By the end of the fifth round, it was clear the Arizona-born fighter had done enough to claim gold.
“I feel amazing,” Dern said. “We both gave everything out there. It’s a dream come true, but I’m already thinking about getting back in the gym. I know there’s a target on my back now, and I want to be ready for whatever’s next.”
Now sitting at the top of the strawweight division, Mackenzie Dern already has her eyes on future opponents. She mentioned both Tatiana Suarez and Zhang Weili as potential challengers, two fighters who could make for compelling matchups. Suarez recently bounced back with a win over Amanda Lemos, while Zhang vacated her title to move up and challenge Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322.
“I’m not going to be a baby champion,” Dern told Ariel Helwani. “Whoever they send, I’ll be ready. I want to fight the best. Zhang Weili makes sense, even if she loses to Valentina. She’s a former champion, and Tatiana is coming off a win too.”
Balancing motherhood and a championship career, Dern embraced her daughter Moa after her title win, a moment that symbolized her growth both in and out of the cage. But rest assured, the new champ has no plans to slow down.
“If I can take everything I did this camp and keep it going for months or years, imagine the kind of beast I’ll become,” Dern said.
From elite grappler to world champion, Mackenzie Dern has found her rhythm. And with her next goal already set on defending her title against the division’s toughest names, it’s clear her reign is just beginning.
