UFC 321: Mackenzie Dern reacts to title win, what’s next
Mackenzie Dern discusses her UFC 321 title win and what’s next for her in the strawweight division.
In the wake of her title loss in the UFC 321 co-main event Saturday, Virna Jandiroba is taking some comfort in the way she approached the fight and how she’ll continue to approach life afterward.
Jandiroba (22-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) fought Mackenzie Dern (16-5 MMA, 11-5 UFC) for the women’s strawweight title that was vacated by champion Zhang Weili when she decided to move up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko. The bout was a rematch from nearly five years ago – a fight Dern won by unanimous decision.
At Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, Jandiroba kept things super competitive in the first three rounds. But Dern took Rounds 4 and 5 from all three judges and took the decision with a pair of 48-47 scores and a 49-46.
As soon as the horn sounded at the end of Round 5, both fighters rode on their coaches’ shoulders around the cage, starting early celebrations of presumed victory. But it was Dern who got her hand raised and had the 115-pound title put around her waist.
Jandiroba lost for the first time in four years, and at 37 may have a challenging climb back to a title shot – especially since she’s now 0-2 against the new champ. But she posted on social media to say she likes the way she fought, and to thank the people backing her.
“I was not a coward at all,” Jandiroba posted. “I fought as I live, with the courage to be who I am, to live my own way. Way to go champ With or without the belt, CHAMPION! Thank you all for the support and affection ❤️ ✨ To my people, I love you ✨☝🏽.”
