With surging talks of a superfight between UFC champions Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko in 2025, Mackenzie Dern has thrown her identify within the combine for a shot on the strawweight title towards No. 1 contender Virna Jandiroba.
Zhang has reigned atop the 115-pound division since re-claiming the title in late 2022 and defended the belt thrice with dominant performances whereas Shevchenko not too long ago beat Manon Fiorot for her first protection since in her second run as champion — there have been seven profitable defenses between 2019 and 2022.
The success of each champions may result in a conflict of titleholders later this 12 months, and Dern is hoping that the promotion’s latest stance on inter-division challenges opens the door for a vacant or interim belt at strawweight in Zhang’s absence. Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have been pressured to vacate belts when shifting up divisions, and the identical may occur with Zhang if she goes to flyweight.
“Perhaps Weili strikes up for Valentina and that clears the belt in our division,” Dern instructed MMA Preventing. “That’s what it’s being talked, however nothing is confirmed.”
Jandiroba is the clear No. 1 contender at strawweight, extending her successful streak to 5 in a row with a one-sided determination over Yan Xiaonan in April. The previous Invicta FC champion additionally beat Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez within the octagon, for a UFC report of 8-3 with 4 finishes.
Dern is on a two-fight successful streak, together with a submission over Amanda Ribas to avenge a earlier loss, and was one of many three ladies to beat Jandiroba within the UFC. Dern gained a choice over Jandiroba in 2020, and scored 5 stoppages is 10 octagon victories.
“I need to battle somebody who’s coming off a win, somebody ranked forward of me — the UFC desires that, too,” Dern mentioned. “My plan was to battle thrice this 12 months and finish the 12 months combating for the belt, however it’s taking too lengthy.
“However now that I’m coming off two wins over ladies that have been behind me within the rankings, I’ve to battle somebody forward subsequent. Tatiana [Suarez] is coming off a loss and can take her a while to battle once more, so Virna is the battle to make.”
