Mackenzie Dern claimed the vacant UFC girls’s strawweight championship Saturday at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, defeating Virna Jandiroba by way of unanimous determination 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 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, pals 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 gained 2 of my world titles! You have got a particular place in my coronary heart! The Jiu-Jitsu lady made it to the highest! All glory to God! 🌟🌟🌟”
The fight itself showcased Dern’s evolution as a mixed martial artist. She engaged in a competitive five-round battle against Jandiroba, who attempted nine takedowns throughout the contest. Despite being taken down multiple times, Dern managed her positioning on the ground effectively while establishing dominance in striking exchanges.
According to official statistics, Dern landed 247 total strikes compared to Jandiroba’s 208, demonstrating her improved boxing under the guidance of renowned striking coach Jason Parillo. This placing benefit proved decisive regardless of Jandiroba’s tactical wrestling strategy.
Dern’s path to championship gold involved navigating a career marked by significant challenges and notable setbacks. After making her UFC debut in 2018, she faced weight management issues that cost her performance bonuses and drew criticism in her early years. During this period, she recorded a 1-3 record in her first four UFC fights and struggled with body composition management, missing weight on three separate occasions in her first seven fights. Between 2020 and 2024, Dern went through a particularly difficult stretch, winning only two of six fights, which prompted questions about her championship potential.
The turnaround began when she reunited with striking coach Jason Parillo and refined her overall fight approach. Dern defeated Amanda Ribas by submission in January 2025 to improve her win streak to three consecutive victories, positioning herself for title consideration following Zhang Weili’s decision to vacate the strawweight championship in pursuit of a superfight against flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 in November.
Beyond her MMA accomplishments, Dern’s victory carries historical significance across combat sports. She became the first woman 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 function in her improvement from childhood coaching.
The Abu Dhabi location held significance for Dern past the title alternative. She gained the Abu Dhabi World Professional championship precisely ten years prior on April 25, 2015, defeating Gabi Garcia, a match thought to be one in every 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 along 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 said that her daughter’s presence all through her combating journey motivated her efficiency contained in the cage and bolstered her willpower to beat earlier setbacks.
