Two Brazilians will face the co-main duel for the strawweight belt at UFC 321, which will be held in Abu Dhabi this Saturday (25). Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern will face each other for the vacant title of the category, vacated by China’s Zhang Weili, who announced her temporary departure from the octagon.
Former Invicta FC champion in 2018, Jandiroba is looking for the biggest achievement of her career in the UFC. She already faced Dern in 2020 and ended up defeated. The opponent is also competing for the first belt in the organization. The fight promises to be an intense grappling duel between two of the best finishers in women’s MMA.
In the main fight of the night, the UFC heavyweight belt will be contested again. Englishman Tom Aspinall, interim champion promoted to holder of the lineal title after Jon Jones’ retirement, will face Frenchman Ciryl Gane. The clash will mark Aspinall’s first defense.
In recent months, the division has been practically at a standstill since Jones won the belt in March 2023, defended it just once, against Stipe Miocic, in November 2024, and then announced his retirement.
Aspinall, 31 years old and with a record of 15 wins and three losses, won the interim title in November 2023 by knocking out Sergei Pavlovich, and then defended it against Curtis Blaydes, in July 2024. After almost a year and a half without fighting, he returns to the octagon for the first defense of the linear heavyweight belt.
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Brazilian Jailton Almeida will also fight at UFC 321
Another highlight of the night will be the return of Russian Alexander Volkov, former Bellator champion, who will have his first fight in 2025 against Brazilian Jailton Almeida. The Bahian, owner of a record of eight wins and one loss in the UFC, seven of which were by knockout or submission, arrives as one of the most interesting names in the new generation of heavyweights.
The fight is seen as an important test for both, as Volkov wants to get back on track for the belt, while Jailton seeks to confirm his rise in the division.
In addition to these fights, the event will also feature Brazilian Jaqueline Amorim on the preliminary card.
Times and where to watch UFC 321
UFC 321 takes place this Saturday, October 25th, in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). Due to the time difference, the fights start earlier than usual.
In Brazil, the event can be watched through UFC Fight Pass, an application that broadcasts all UFC fights.
UFC 321: main and preliminary cards
Principal
- Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane – heavyweight title fight
- Virna Jandiroba x Mackenzie Dern – strawweight title fight
- Alexander Volko x Jailton Almeida – heavyweight
- umar Nurmamedov X Mario Bautista – PESO Galo
- Aleksandar Rakic x. Azamat Murzakanov – light heavyweight
Preliminary
- Abdul-Kareem Al-Selwady x Matheus Camilo – light weight
- Ikram Aliskerov x Park Jun-yong – a medio.
- Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett – heavyweight
- Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo – peso mosca
- Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue – strawweight
- Nathaniel Wood vs. José Miguel Delgado – featherweight
- Mateusz Rebocki vs. L’udovit Klein – peso leve
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