UFC 321 – Virna Jandiroba vs Mackenzie Dern: Preview & Betting Tips

Nearly five years after their first meeting, Brazilians Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern are set to run it back for the vacant UFC strawweight title at UFC 321.

Jandiroba (22-3) enters this vacant title bout after racking up five-straight wins, four of which came via decision. And whilst that may sound boring, it shows her cerebral style of fighting.

Dern (15-5) has long been recognised as one of the most dangerous submission artists in women’s MMA. Yet in recent years, she’s worked to blend her grappling with a more confident striking game.

Tale of the Tape

Virna Jandiroba – Odds 2.4 (Bet 365)

Record: 22-3

Age: 37

Height: 5ft3

Reach: 64”

Weight: Strawweight 

Stance: Orthodox 

Mackenzie Dern – Odds 1.59 (Bet 365)

Record: 15-5

Age: 32

Height: 5ft4

Reach: 63”

Weight: Strawweight

Stance: Orthodox 

Virna Jandiroba vs Mackenzie Dern: Analysis 

Jandiroba often invites her opponents to lead, baiting them into overextending before shooting for well-timed takedowns. Once the fight hits the mat, Jandiroba’s top control and positional awareness come into play.

Her grappling is methodical, she doesn’t rush for submissions but instead builds control through transitions and pressure. Against a submission threat like Dern, that patience will be vital. Dern uses her stand-up to inflict damage, often throwing aggressive combinations to pressure her opponents and open up finishing opportunities.

She’s not afraid to trade in the pocket, using looping hooks and overhands to force her way forward. The key for Dern will be maintaining control of distance and rhythm, ensuring her strikes land effectively without overcommitting and leaving herself vulnerable to counters or takedowns.

Dern needs to keep the fight standing, land combinations early, and use her striking to force defensive reactions that open up submission chances later in the fight.Her opponent will need to stay disciplined, exploit Dern’s forward pressure with reactive takedowns, and use top control to accumulate points or set up a late submission for herself.

Jandiroba vs Dern: Prediction & Betting Tips

Ultimately, this fight might mirror their first encounter in many ways, it will be competitive, tense, and defined by small positional battles. But Jandiroba’s improved composure and wrestling setups could tilt the scales this time.

The bookies have Dern as the clear favourite, though I’d personally be pricing this one up as a pick’em. Purely for value reasons, I’m going to take Virna Jandiroba moneyline at odds of 2.40 (Bet 365). However, I will not be shocked by any outcome in this one; I believe both ladies have a path to victory via decision and on the mat.