With surging talks of a superfight between UFC champions Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko in 2025, Mackenzie Dern has thrown her title within the combine for a shot on the strawweight title in opposition to No. 1 contender Virna Jandiroba.
Zhang has reigned atop the 115-pound division since re-claiming the title in late 2022 and defended the belt thrice with dominant performances whereas Shevchenko not too long ago beat Manon Fiorot for her first protection since in her second run as champion — there have been seven profitable defenses between 2019 and 2022.
The success of each champions may result in a conflict of titleholders later this 12 months, and Dern is hoping that the promotion’s current stance on inter-division challenges opens the door for a vacant or interim belt at strawweight in Zhang’s absence. Ilia Topuria and Islam Makhachev had been compelled to vacate belts when shifting up divisions, and the identical may occur with Zhang if she goes to flyweight.
“Possibly Weili strikes up for Valentina and that clears the belt in our division,” Dern informed MMA Combating. “That’s what it’s being talked, however nothing is confirmed.”
Jandiroba is the clear No. 1 contender at strawweight, extending her successful streak to 5 in a row with a one-sided choice over Yan Xiaonan in April. The previous Invicta FC champion additionally beat Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez within the octagon, for a UFC document of 8-3 with 4 finishes.
Dern is on a two-fight successful streak, together with a submission over Amanda Ribas to avenge a earlier loss, and was one of many three girls to beat Jandiroba within the UFC. Dern gained a call over Jandiroba in 2020, and scored 5 stoppages is 10 octagon victories.
“I need to struggle somebody who’s coming off a win, somebody ranked forward of me — the UFC desires that, too,” Dern mentioned. “My plan was to struggle thrice this 12 months and finish the 12 months combating for the belt, but it surely’s taking too lengthy.
“However now that I’m coming off two wins over women that had been behind me within the rankings, I’ve to struggle somebody forward subsequent. Tatiana [Suarez] is coming off a loss and can take her a while to struggle once more, so Virna is the struggle to make.”
