“Has there ever been a more insignificant title fight in the history?” Din Thomas on the UFC 321 Co-Main Event
The UFC 321 co-main event has the caveat of having the vacant strawweight belt on the line. Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba clash in a rematch to determine who will be crowned the #1 115lbs fighter on the planet. Or… is it?
December 11, 2020, Las Vegas, Nevada, Las Vegas, NV, United States: Las Vegas, NV – December 11: Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba face off during the UFC 256 weigh-ins at UFC Apex on December 11, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Las Vegas, Nevada United States – ZUMAp175 20201211_zsa_p175_105 Copyright: xDiegoxRibasx
The only reason this fight is taking place is because Dana White and the UFC have drifted away from having simultaneous champions, stripping the champion before they move up. Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev have both had to give up their belts before moving up in weight and Zhang Weili will relinquish her belt.
Is Zhang Weili still the best woman who could make 115lbs on the planet? Yes. Will she be the champion on Sunday morning? No.
250210 — BEIJING, Feb. 10, 2025 — Zhang Weili L of China celebrates after the women s strawweight championship at the UFC 312 in Sydney, Australia, Feb. 9, 2025. Photo by /Xinhua XINHUA PHOTOS OF THE DAY HuxJingchen PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Former UFC star Din Thomas, who often comments on UFC fights during the broadcast, didn’t mince his words when discussing the UFC 321 co-main event on a recent podcast. Speaking to former UFC title contender, Anthony Smith on Smith’s podcast, Thomas stated:
“I mean this with all due respect. I’m trying to be as respectful (as possible), but has there ever been a more insignificant title fight in the history — not, maybe, in the history, but in the last, recent memory? You get where I’m coming from, right? No one seems to even care of have batted an eye at this fight.”
He has a point too. There are very few people who truly believe that this fight has any significance for the division. Jandiroba deserves the shot, no doubt. Since losing to Dern in 2020, she’s enjoyed a run of 6-1, including a five fight winning run coming into the UFC 321 co-main event. Dern, on the other hand, has gone 5-4, coming into the fight on a two fight winning run.
There is no doubt that Dern is the more marketable. She’s got the look, is bilingual and crosses over into the mainstream. Jandiroba, on the other hand, doesn’t.
Mackenzie Dern to Win the UFC 321 Co-Main ‘Very Handily’
The post-fight marketing may not be an issue, however. Speaking on the fight itself, Thomas believes that Dern hasn’t reached her potential yet, comparing her to Kevin Holland. “I think she’s better — it’s weird to say this because she’s fighting for a title, but I think she’s better than what she’s ever showed.”
He also gave Dern props on her striking improvements as well as her grappling and her gas tank: “Mackenzie Dern, she punches as hard as anybody in the division, she grapples as well as anybody in the division, she’s got gas for days, she doesn’t get tired”.
He did question her motivation and mentality when it comes to stepping in the cage.“It’s just sometimes she doesn’t seem like she even cares about fighting”, but did also note that “she’s born for this“.
When offering a prediction, Thomas was clear on Mackenzie Dern’s chances, “I feel as though, if she takes it seriously, I think she should win this fight very handily.”
All will be revealed on Saturday night when Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba go to war for the strawweight belt.
You can check out the entire podcast here:
