Mackenzie Dern is the newly elected UFC ladies’s strawweight champion, and he or she already has an concept of who her first title challenger can be.
Dern and Virna Jandirova clashed for the vacant 115-pound gold medal within the co-main occasion of UFC 321. This was a rematch of their 2020 bout, which Dern received by unanimous resolution. The rematch in Abu Dhabi lasted 5 rounds and Dern was awarded the title by all three judges.
Talking to reporters throughout the UFC 321 post-fight press convention, Dern revealed who else moreover Zhang Weili might probably struggle for gold subsequent (h/t MMAJunkie).
“I do not know the way a lot say I’ve now that I am champion,” Dern stated. “I do not know the way a lot of an influence my phrases and choices may have. However I am right here to guard it, so whoever is shipped to me, I will be prepared. I do not know if (Zhang) Weili will (come again) or not, however I undoubtedly need to struggle Tatiana (Suarez). Perhaps she will be able to get another struggle. I would wish to have a pair extra fights with the grappler.”
Suarez final appeared in a match again in September. She defeated Amanda Lemos by unanimous resolution. It was a fantastic bounce-back win for Suarez, who had suffered a lopsided loss to Weili within the strawweight gold medal struggle. It was Suarez’s first loss in skilled combined martial arts on his file.
Weili will problem Valentina Shevchenko for the UFC ladies’s flyweight title on November fifteenth. The struggle can be featured on the UFC 322 card in New York. Whatever the final result, solely time will inform what Weili will determine after the tremendous struggle.
As for Dern, she hopes to show that her reign atop the 115-pound mountain is right here to remain. BJPenn.com will preserve you up to date on what’s subsequent for Dern within the coming months.
