Mackenzie Dern can lastly name herself a UFC champion after securing a unanimous determination win over Virna Jandiroba to assert the vacant strawweight title within the UFC 321 co-main occasion.
It was a back-and-forth struggle all through however Dern’s putting and skill to dish out harm on the bottom made the distinction with Jandiroba consistently grabbing takedowns however then failing to mount a lot offense past that. Nothing got here simple however Dern’s perseverance and grit helped her do sufficient to get the job executed with the judges scoring the struggle 48-47, 48-47 and 49-46 as she turns into the brand new UFC strawweight champion.
“It feels wonderful,” Dern mentioned with tears in her eyes after successful. “I can’t imagine this. It wasn’t the struggle I anticipated, I assumed it was going to be a bit of bit simpler. I believe I did numerous harm on the bottom. I believe it was sufficient.”
It was a robust putting begin for Dern as she cracked Jandiroba with some stiff leg kicks and established a nasty jab that was constantly discovering a house. That led to Jandriroba truly securing a takedown however Dern defended properly earlier than scramble again to her ft.
Dern continued to counter the grappling makes an attempt from Jandiroba, who simply had no reply within the putting exchanges. Repeatedly, Dern was connecting with thudding pictures on the ft as she was throwing with energy behind very punch.
That compelled Jandiroba to get a bit of extra lively because the strawweights continued throwing heavy leather-based. Jandiroba ultimately secured one other takedown however this time she inflicted a bit of extra harm with Dern enjoying protection from her again.
When the struggle did keep on the ft, Dern was nonetheless exhibiting off higher putting general, which then compelled Jandiroba to once more flip to her wrestling. Jandiroba secured takedowns virtually effortlessly as Dern fell again to her Brazilian jiu-jitsu coaching to remain lively in her guard.
Because the struggle moved into the fourth spherical, each strawweights had been sporting vital bruising underneath their eyes as they began buying and selling pictures on the ft once more. Jandiroba was lastly began to attach with a few of her mixtures and that led to Dern securing her first takedown however she wasn’t in a position to do a lot with it as Jandiroba defended on the underside.
With 5 minutes remaining, Jandiborba pressed ahead and ended up pushing Dern in opposition to the cage the place she continued to search for takedowns whereas additionally throwing some efficient elbows. Once they separated, Jandiroba tossed a pair extra strikes however as soon as once more dragged Dern to the canvas, who instantly began launching strikes off her again.
That basically was the distinction within the struggle as a result of whereas no one got here near a end in the course of the five-round saga, Dern was simply busier and extra offensive minded and Jandiroba simply couldn’t discover an efficient counter.
Hailed as the way forward for the UFC from the day she arrived within the promotion, Dern confirmed off evolution in her recreation and eventually ascended the throne now that she’s holding onto the strawweight title along with her newest win.
