UFC 321: Jandiroba vs. Dern takes place on October 25, 2025, in Manchester, England. This main card bout crowns the new UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion, as Brazil’s grappling ace Virna Jandiroba meets fellow jiu-jitsu world champion and American-Brazilian submission specialist Mackenzie Dern in a rematch years in the making.
Virna Jandiroba
Virna Jandiroba (22–3) enters her first UFC title fight riding a six-fight win streak and sitting atop the strawweight rankings. A former Invicta FC champion, Jandiroba has evolved from a pure grappler into a complete mixed martial artist, pairing her world-class submissions with improved striking and relentless pace. Her recent wins over Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, Loopy Godinez, Marina Rodriguez, and Angela Hill have showcased her ability to dominate both on the mat and in exchanges.
Known for her suffocating top control and precision grappling, Jandiroba has finished 14 fights by submission, most notably with her trademark armbar. She’s never been finished across 25 professional bouts, underlining her durability and defensive savvy. Her success lies in forcing opponents backward, chaining takedowns, and maintaining positional dominance once grounded.
Virna Jandiroba – Last 5 Fights:
Win vs. Yan Xiaonan – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC 314 – April 12, 2025
Win vs. Amanda Lemos – Submission (Armbar) – UFC on ESPN 60 – July 20, 2024
Win vs. Loopy Godinez – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 54 – March 30, 2024
Win vs. Marina Rodriguez – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC 288 – May 6, 2023
Win vs. Angela Hill – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC on ESPN 36 – May 14, 2022
Keys for Jandiroba: apply constant pressure, secure top position through takedowns and transitions, and neutralize Dern’s submission threats with positional control.
Mackenzie Dern
Mackenzie Dern (15–5) remains one of the most accomplished submission artists in UFC history. A multi-time BJJ world champion, Dern’s flexibility, creativity, and finishing instincts make her dangerous in any scramble. She thrives in chaotic transitions, often attacking armbars and back takes at unconventional angles.
Dern’s recent victories over Amanda Ribas and Loopy Godinez highlighted her ability to mix aggression with composure, while her previous win over Jandiroba (in 2020) adds intrigue to this rematch. Despite setbacks against Amanda Lemos and Jéssica Andrade, Dern continues to evolve—developing more confident striking and clinch control to complement her ground prowess. Her challenge remains defensive consistency, particularly against disciplined top-game grapplers like Jandiroba.
Mackenzie Dern – Last 5 Fights:
Win vs. Amanda Ribas – Submission (Armbar) – UFC Fight Night 249 – January 11, 2025
Win vs. Loopy Godinez – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC on ABC 7 – August 3, 2024
Loss vs. Amanda Lemos – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC 298 – February 17, 2024
Loss vs. Jéssica Andrade – TKO (Punches) – UFC 295 – November 11, 2023
Win vs. Angela Hill – Decision (Unanimous) – UFC Fight Night: Dern vs. Hill – May 20, 2023
Keys for Dern: create scrambles early, attack with submissions during transitions, and force Jandiroba into reactive grappling sequences rather than controlled exchanges.
Fight Breakdown
This is one of the most technical grappling matchups in women’s MMA history. Both fighters share elite-level jiu-jitsu credentials, but their MMA adaptations differ—Jandiroba’s game relies on positional dominance and endurance, while Dern excels in explosive, submission-heavy exchanges.
If the fight stays measured and position-oriented, Jandiroba’s wrestling and top control likely dictate the pace. However, if Dern can create chaos, rolling transitions, guard pulls, and fast submission setups, she can catch the Brazilian off-balance. On the feet, Dern’s aggression may edge the exchanges, but Jandiroba’s composure and cardio give her the long-game advantage.
Over five rounds, Jandiroba’s consistency and control-based approach may outlast Dern’s bursts of danger.
Prediction
Expect an early grappling showcase before the pace settles into a tactical ground battle. Dern will threaten with submissions, but Jandiroba’s defense, top control, and pressure should gradually tilt the scorecards in her favor.
Prediction: Virna Jandiroba def. Mackenzie Dern via Decision (Unanimous)
A Jandiroba victory would crown her as the undisputed strawweight champion and affirm her rise as one of the most complete grapplers in women’s MMA, while a Dern upset would mark a full-circle redemption as the sport’s most feared submission finisher.