As UFC 321: Aspinall vs Gane in Abu Dhabi approaches, excitement is building with two significant fights added to the impressive lineup. The event on October 25 at Etihad Arena on Yas Island features heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall defending his title against Ciryl Gane. Additionally, fans will witness a historic women’s strawweight title fight and the return of Umar Nurmagomedov in a crucial bantamweight matchup.
Before Zhang Weili moves to flyweight, the vacant strawweight title will be contested in Abu Dhabi for the first time. Brazilian stars Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern will face off in a rematch for the championship. Their first meeting at UFC 267 in Abu Dhabi saw Dern win by unanimous decision, part of an impressive four-fight streak. Although her career experienced fluctuations, she recently revived her momentum with decision wins over Loopy Godinez and Amanda Ribas.
Jandiroba, meanwhile, has excelled since that loss. “Carcará” has won six of her last seven fights, including five consecutive victories, with notable wins over Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, Amanda Lemos, Yan Xiaonan, and Godinez. Her consistency and powerful grappling make her a formidable force at 115 pounds.
This fight marks a landmark as the first UFC women’s title bout held in the Middle East, highlighting the UFC’s and the UAE capital’s dedication to promoting MMA and inspiring women in the region.
Nurmagomedov vs Bautista
Abu Dhabi will also host Umar Nurmagomedov’s return against Mario Bautista in an important bantamweight clash. For the Russian, Abu Dhabi has been the site of major achievements, from his UFC debut in 2021 to headlining UFC Fight Night: Sandhagen vs. Nurmagomedov last year. After his first professional loss during a title attempt against Merab Dvalishvili at UFC 311 in California, he aims to reassert himself as a contender.
Bautista, a division dark horse, enters on an eight-fight winning streak, with his latest victory against Patchy Mix at UFC 316. A versatile fighter with sharp striking and smooth submissions, he seeks to defeat Nurmagomedov and move closer to title contention. This matchup between a rising underdog and a proven contender adds intrigue to the already exciting card.
