Mackenzie Dern achieved a milestone past the Octagon at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on October twenty fifth. With a unanimous choice win over Vilna Jandirova with scores of 48-47, 48-47, 49-46, Dern received the vacant UFC ladies’s strawweight title and have become a part of the game’s increasing historical past.
Mackenzie Dern
Instantly after the win, Dern mentioned she understood the importance of the second.
“That is historical past. I imply, that is historical past. I do not assume anybody can take that away from me. I’ve actually cemented my identify on this sport and the sky is the restrict. I am glad to be part of historical past now, however some components of MMA are nonetheless actually new. The primary UFC was in 1993 once I was born. So this sport has been round for about 32 years. And I hope that I will be part of this sport and future generations. I hope that I will be an inspiration to ladies and fighters. ”
In his combat in opposition to Jandiroba at UFC 321, Dern deployed an enhanced placing arsenal that displays years of dedication below placing coach Jason Parrillo.
She outscored her opponent 247 to 152 by 5 rounds, demonstrating the technical proficiency that had been questioned earlier in her profession. Jandiroba secured 9 takedowns, however Dern neutralized the Brazilian’s floor management and maintained attacking momentum from behind her when crucial. Regardless of the aggressive nature of the match, the consensus of judges clearly favored Dern’s general efficiency.
Greater than a right away victory, Dern’s championship marks a historic feat in the whole subject of grappling. She turned the primary lady to win an IBJJF Black Belt World Championship, an ADCC World Championship, and a UFC title. This achievement places her amongst an exceptionally small group of individuals. Former UFC heavyweight champion Fabricio Werdum is the one fighter to ever accomplish this feat in each males’s and girls’s bouts.
Dern’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu credentials established her as a world-class grappler lengthy earlier than her MMA profession. She competed because the world’s top-ranked IBJJF athlete, successful a number of world championships at every belt stage and an ADCC gold medal in submission grappling.
UFC profession
The trail to UFC 321 was something however linear. After making his UFC debut in 2018, Dern confronted adversity that examined his resolve. She had a 1-3 report in her first 4 fights within the UFC, struggled with weight administration points that prompted her to overlook weight a number of instances, and confronted questions on her placing capability and consistency. Between 2020 and 2024, she received simply two of six fights, main observers to query whether or not her standing amongst Jiu-Jitsu’s elite would translate into a possible UFC championship.
The tide turned when Dern reunited with hitting coach Jason Parrillo and refined his general combating strategy. In January 2025, she started a three-fight successful streak that started with a submission victory over Amanda Rivas, incomes her standing in title consideration.
The vacant title combat between Dern and Jandiroba was aggressive on many ranges. The 2 fought in December 2020, with Dern successful a unanimous choice that targeted on placing. Each fighters continued to be energetic and profitable throughout that point, with Jandiroba coming into the title combat on a powerful five-fight successful streak, together with a submission over Amanda Lemos and a call win over Yang Xiaonan. Jandiroba retained the primary spot within the division rankings, with Dern in fifth place, making a rematch an inexpensive means to crown a brand new champion.
Instantly following his victory at UFC 321, Dern’s emotional response was evident as he wiped away tears in his post-fight interview. She celebrated contained in the Octagon along with her 6-year-old daughter, Moa Daan Santos. This second added private that means to the championship accomplishment.
