Mackenzie Dern Edges Virna Jandiroba to Claim Vacant UFC Strawweight Title at UFC 321

ABU DHABI — There’s a new queen at 115. Mackenzie Dern captured the vacant UFC strawweight championship, outpointing Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in a grueling, razor-close co-main event at UFC 321 inside Etihad Arena.

A tactical 25-minute grinder

Across five tense rounds, Jandiroba repeatedly tested Dern on the mat, venturing into the BJJ ace’s guard to land measured ground-and-pound. Dern answered with an active bottom game constant hips, elbows, and punches while threatening reversals and scrambles. Several frames were coin flips; both fighters wore swelling by the final horn as their corners hoisted them in a last push to sway the judges.

When the totals came in, Dern swept the cards to complete a long, uneven journey to gold. After debuting in 2018 and enduring a 1–3 skid at one point, she strung together the wins she needed to seize an opportunity created when Zhang Weili vacated the belt to move to flyweight.

Jandiroba’s five-fight surge ends with her first UFC title bid, but her composed, wrestling-first effort underscored her status among the division’s elite.

“It feels amazing,” Dern said, voice cracking. “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.”

In what was a heart felt moment, you could see Dern becoming emotional after the post fight interview. As she was celebrating with her daughter in the Octagon.