Dern vs Jandiroba for vacant UFC strawweight title at UFC 321

Mackenzie Dern will fight Virna Jandiroba for the vacant UFC strawweight championship on Saturday, October 25, at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, with the bout serving as the co-main event of UFC 321. The title became available after Zhang Weili vacated the 115 pound belt to move up to flyweight. Dern and Jandiroba will meet for a rematch of their first Octagon encounter, which Dern won by unanimous decision in 2020.

Dern, one of the division's most prominent fighters, said she and her team have prepared for every scenario heading into the five-round championship bout. She noted the first fight against Jandiroba stayed standing for all three rounds and said this rematch will be approached more broadly. "The first fight, we didn't go to the ground at all. We stayed striking for all three rounds. This time, since I know she could come to play differently, we're prepared to go to the ground, stand up, point fighting, strategic fighting on the cage. We're ready for everything," Dern said.

Jandiroba arrives at UFC 321 on a five-fight winning streak and has won six of her last seven outings, a run that has shifted betting odds in her favor on several sportsbooks. Dern, meanwhile, is riding a...