Mackenzie Dern defeats Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision in UFC 321 co-main event. The co-main event of UFC 321, held on October 25, 2025, at the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates delivered a historic moment for the strawweight division as Mackenzie Dern defeats Virna Jandiroba to become the new UFC Strawweight Champion.
Virna Jandiroba has been on a strong run in the strawweight division. In April 2025 she defeated Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision in UFC 314. Earlier, on July 20, 2024, she submitted Amanda Lemos with an armbar in the second round at UFC Fight Night. Back in March 2024 she beat Loopy Godínez by unanimous decision, and in May 2023 she defeated Marina Rodriguez by unanimous decision. Overall her record is listed as 22-3-0 before UFC 321. Her three losses all came via decision, which underlines her durability and consistency.
Mackenzie Dern’s recent record shows a mix of success and setbacks. In January, 2025 she submitted Amanda Ribas in the third round to get back into the win column. Before that, on February 17, 2024 she lost to Amanda Lemos by decision at UFC 298. And in November 2023 she suffered a TKO loss to Jessica Andrade in the second round. Her record stands at 15-5-0.
Jandiroba and Dern opened the round by trading leg kicks, with Dern landing a good one and throwing several punches to pressure Jandiroba. Jandiroba stuffed a takedown and they both smiled. Dern landed a jab and a few more punches as Jandiroba moved forward. Jandiroba attempted a takedown again, but Dern pushed her off. Dern kept landing effective jabs until Jandiroba caught her with a straight right. Dern scored over the top with another punch, but Jandiroba timed a clean double leg and took her down. Dern stayed comfortable on her back, throwing hammerfists and stopping Jandiroba from standing, before kicking her off and getting back up.
Dern landed two more good punches, and Jandiroba answered with another double leg. Dern tied her up from the bottom to stop her offense, and Jandiroba controlled the position. After they worked back to their feet, Dern threw punches, and Jandiroba tried to muscle her to the fence. Dern reversed the position and both traded knees until the round ended
Round 2 started with Dern pushing Jandiroba to the fence, but Jandiroba defended well and they returned to striking. Dern threw wide, aggressive punches, while Jandiroba backed her up with a quick right and then landed an overhand right. Dern responded with a 1-2, and Jandiroba landed a left hook as both continued to take risks on the feet. Jandiroba then scored a takedown.
There wasn’t much action on the ground at first, so they went back to standing. Jandiroba landed a flicking left hook, then won a scramble and put Dern on her back with about 90 seconds left. She followed with hammerfists while Dern punched from the bottom but without advantage. Jandiroba stayed heavy on top as time ran down. Dern attempted a couple of upkicks, and once she stood, Jandiroba kept her distance and landed a left hand on her.
Round 3 started and Dern caught Jandiroba with a knee as Jandiroba came in for a takedown, but Dern still ended up on her back. They returned to striking shortly after. A large welt formed under Jandiroba’s right eye. Dern then muscled her to the fence while Jandiroba tried to land downward elbows. They moved back to the center. Dern developed a bruise near her own right eye. After another striking exchange, Dern pushed Jandiroba to the fence again. Dern landed a right hand and Jandiroba answered with a left hook. Jandiroba went for another takedown and got it. Dern threw elbows from the bottom while Jandiroba stayed in her guard, smothering her offense. Dern looked frustrated and nearly landed an illegal upkick before Jandiroba finished the round with a right hand.
Round 4 had Dern worked behind her jab and landed several clean strikes while Jandiroba countered with her own left and right hands. Both stayed active on the feet until Dern pressed forward looking for a takedown, but Jandiroba defended. After another striking exchange, Jandiroba scored a double-leg takedown, though little happened on the ground and Dern stood back up. Jandiroba landed a quick 1–2 before Dern secured her own takedown to close the round, doing just enough to edge it.
The final round then came and Dern landed a body kick before Jandiroba answered with a jab-cross. Dern hit a big right hand but was taken down after a spinning attempt was blocked. They battled in the clinch until returning to the center, where they traded punches again. Jandiroba scored another takedown and controlled from the top while Dern threw hammerfists from the bottom. In the final minute they stood back up, exchanged strikes, and Dern secured a late takedown in what remained a very close round.
After a hard-fought five rounds, the judges sided with Mackenzie Dern’s forward pressure, striking output, and takedowns, awarding her a unanimous decision victory over Virna Jandiroba with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46.
“It feels amazing,” Dern said with tears in her eyes after winning. “I can’t believe this. It wasn’t the fight I expected, I thought it was going to be a little bit easier. I think I did a lot of damage on the ground. I think it was enough.”
Main card
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane ruled no-contest (accidental foul, eye poke) (R1, 4:35)
Mackenzie Dern def. Virna Jandiroba via unanimous decision (48-47 x2, 49-46)
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Mario Bautista via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Alexander Volkov def. Jailton Almeida via split decision (29-28 x2, 28-29)
Azamat Murzakanov def. Aleksandar Rakic via first-round TKO (3:11)
Prelims
Quillan Salkilld def. Nasrat Haqparast via first-round KO (2:30)
Ikram Aliskerov def. Jun Yong Park via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Ludovit Klein def. Mateusz Rebecki via majority decision (29-28, 28-27, 28-28)
Valter Walker def. Louie Sutherland via submission (heel hook) (R1, 1:24)
Nathaniel Wood def. Jose Miguel Delgado via unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Chris Barnett via unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27 x2)
Mitch Raposo def. Azat Maksum via unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27 x2)
Mizuki Inoue def. Jaqueline Amorim via unanimous decision (30-27 x2, 29-28)
