Mackenzie Dern has shared footage of her training preparations ahead of her strawweight title fight against Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 on October 25 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi. The vacant championship opportunity represents the biggest moment of her career, with the Brazilian-American fighter showing off her work in the final stages of fight camp.
Mackenzie Dern training images
The matchup comes after Zhang Weili gave up her strawweight title to move up to flyweight and challenge Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322. Dern and Jandiroba previously met at UFC 256 in December 2020, with Dern earning a unanimous decision victory in a three-round contest. The rematch will feature five championship rounds, a format that Dern says benefits her experience
Dern has competed in about five five-round fights over the past five years, while Jandiroba has limited experience in that span. Speaking about the extended format, Dern explained that five rounds provide more time to troubleshoot issues and find timing, compared to three-round bouts where momentum can change quickly. Her team focused on improving her cardio to maximize the full 25 minutes
The 32-year-old fighter started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu at age three under her father Wellington “Megaton” Dias, a decorated wrestler and coral belt holder. Her credentials include an ADCC championship in 2015, multiple IBJJF World Championships at the black belt level, and world championships in every belt division as she rose through the ranks. She defeated elite competitor Gabi Garcia despite a significant weight disadvantage and remains one of the most certified jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA.
Dern’s preparation for UFC 321 included training at her primary gym conditioning coach Rogerio Camoes, who previously worked with Anderson Silva. She has made significant body composition changes during her career, adding 10 pounds of muscle mass and lowering her body fat percentage from 22 percent to 11 percent. Her striking skills have evolved significantly since her early UFC appearances, with her first fight against Jandiroba taking place entirely on her feet for three rounds.
The training footage posted on social media shows Dern’s commitment to being prepared for any scenario in the rematch. She has stated that her team is ready for the fight to take place on the ground, standing or in strategic exchanges against the cage. Her preparation has emphasized maintaining her jiu-jitsu strengths while continuing to develop her striking fundamentals and overall athleticism.
Dern arrived in Abu Dhabi before fight week and was featured in the first episode of UFC 321 Embedded, where she adapted to the time difference with recovery sessions in the pool. She visited a local zoo before the intensity of fight week increased. Her daughter Moa will be in attendance for the fight, with Dern noting that she has never lost a fight when her daughter has been present, aside from her UFC debut.
#Watch #Mackenzie #Dern #reveals #Fight #Week #training #UFC #title #shot #approaches