Mackenzie Dern claimed the vacant UFC ladies’s strawweight championship Saturday at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, defeating Virna Jandiroba through unanimous resolution with scores of 48-47, 48-47, and 49-46. The 32-year-old fighter’s victory over Jandiroba marked her second consecutive win over the Brazilian and her first UFC title in 9 years of MMA competitors.
Mackenzie Dern Pours Her Coronary heart Out After UFC 321 Championship Victory
Following her triumph, Dern shared her emotional response on social media, expressing gratitude to her assist system and recognizing the magnitude of her achievement. She posted:
“UFC Strawweight WORLD CHAMPION! For some, that is the ultimate level, however for me it’s just the start! Thanks to my coaches, my supervisor, my staff, my household, mates and followers!! I’ve a lot to develop and get higher and I’ll do my finest to work tougher each single day! Thanks Abu Dhabi! The place I received 2 of my world titles! You’ve a particular place in my coronary heart! The Jiu-Jitsu lady made it to the highest! All glory to God! 🌟🌟🌟”
The struggle itself showcased Dern’s evolution as a combined martial artist. She engaged in a aggressive five-round battle towards Jandiroba, who tried 9 takedowns all through the competition. Regardless of being taken down a number of occasions, Dern managed her positioning on the bottom successfully whereas establishing dominance in placing exchanges.
In keeping with official statistics, Dern landed 247 whole strikes in comparison with Jandiroba’s 208, demonstrating her improved boxing below the steering of famend placing coach Jason Parillo. This placing benefit proved decisive regardless of Jandiroba’s tactical wrestling method.
Dern’s path to championship gold concerned navigating a profession marked by important challenges and notable setbacks. After making her UFC debut in 2018, she confronted weight administration points that price her efficiency bonuses and drew criticism in her early years. Throughout this era, she recorded a 1-3 file in her first 4 UFC fights and struggled with physique composition administration, lacking weight on three separate events in her first seven fights. Between 2020 and 2024, Dern went by way of a very troublesome stretch, successful solely two of six fights, which prompted questions on her championship potential.
The turnaround started when she reunited with placing coach Jason Parillo and refined her total struggle method. Dern defeated Amanda Ribas by submission in January 2025 to enhance her win streak to 3 consecutive victories, positioning herself for title consideration following Zhang Weili’s resolution to vacate the strawweight championship in pursuit of a superfight towards flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 in November.
Past her MMA accomplishments, Dern’s victory carries historic significance throughout fight sports activities. She turned the primary girl to win the IBJJF World Championship, an ADCC World Championship, and a UFC title, becoming a member of Fabricio Werdum as solely the second athlete ever to perform this feat throughout Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s most prestigious organizations.
Previous to her MMA profession, Dern established herself as a grappling prodigy, successful world championships at each belt degree and capturing gold on the 2015 ADCC Championship and 2015 IBJJF World Championship, each in gi and no-gi codecs. Her father, Wellington “Megaton” Dias, is himself a embellished Brazilian jiu-jitsu competitor and performed a central position in her growth from childhood coaching.
The Abu Dhabi location held significance for Dern past the title alternative. She received the Abu Dhabi World Professional championship precisely ten years prior on April 25, 2015, defeating Gabi Garcia, a match thought to be certainly one of her signature grappling victories. Dern famous earlier than UFC 321 that competing in the identical metropolis on October 25, 2025, felt serendipitous.
Following the victory announcement, Dern entered the Octagon together with her six-year-old daughter, Moa Dern Santos, in an emotionally charged second. Dern positioned the UFC championship belt on her daughter and mirrored in her post-fight remarks about how motherhood formed her profession trajectory. She acknowledged that her daughter’s presence all through her combating journey motivated her efficiency contained in the cage and strengthened her willpower to beat earlier setbacks.
