ABU DHABI — There’s a new queen at 115. Mackenzie Dern captured the vacant UFC strawweight championship, outpointing Virna Jandiroba by unanimous decision (49-46, 48-47, 48-47) in a grueling, razor-close co-main event at UFC 321 inside Etihad Arena.
A tactical 25-minute grinder
Across five tense rounds, Jandiroba repeatedly tested Dern on the mat, venturing into the BJJ ace’s guard to land measured ground-and-pound. Dern answered with an active bottom game constant hips, elbows, and punches while threatening reversals and scrambles. Several frames were coin flips; both fighters wore swelling by the final horn as their corners hoisted them in a last push to sway the judges.