Zhang Weili Vacates Title; Jandiroba, Dern Set for UFC 321 Clash
BREAKING: UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili has officially vacated her title to pursue a move to flyweight, prompting an immediate title bout for her vacant championship. Virna Jandiroba will face Mackenzie Dern for the 115-pound title at UFC 321 on October 25, 2023, in Abu Dhabi. The announcement was made just moments ago by UFC CEO Dana White.
This development is crucial for the UFC landscape as Zhang, with a record of 26-3, prepares for her challenge against Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight title at UFC 322 on November 15 in New York. Her decision to leave the strawweight division shifts the competitive dynamics significantly.
The upcoming rematch between Jandiroba (with a record of 22-3) and Dern (at 15-5) is particularly exciting. Their previous encounter ended in a unanimous decision victory for Dern in December 2020. Since then, Jandiroba has been on a remarkable run, achieving six wins in her last seven fights, including a current five-fight winning streak. On the other hand, Dern has faced ups and downs, currently holding a 5-4 record over her last nine bouts, but her recent performances have shown promise with victories over Loopy Godinez and Amanda Ribas.
Also noteworthy, UFC 321 will feature a heavyweight title fight between Tom Aspinall and Ciryl Gane, adding further excitement to the event. White has confirmed additional matchups, including a bantamweight clash featuring former title challenger Umar Nurmagomedov against Mario Bautista.
As anticipation builds for these high-stakes fights, fans are eager to see how the vacant strawweight title picture unfolds and how Zhang’s move impacts the flyweight division. Keep an eye on the thrilling developments leading up to UFC 321 and beyond!
