UFC 321: Aspinall Claims Heavyweight Crown, Jandiroba Wins Strawweight Title in Abu dhabi
ABU DHABI, UAE – Tom Aspinall is the new UFC heavyweight champion after defeating Ciryl Gane at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi on Saturday. In a co-main event showcasing a rematch, Virna Jandiroba captured the vacant strawweight title, besting Mackenzie Dern.
UFC 321 marked a pivotal moment for both divisions, with the heavyweight championship changing hands for the first time since Jon Jones’s relinquishment of the belt.The strawweight title was also up for grabs following Zhang Weili’s move to challenge for the flyweight championship, creating an chance for Jandiroba and Dern to claim the 115-pound crown.The event, held in abu Dhabi, showcased high-stakes matchups with significant implications for the future of both weight classes.
Aspinall (15-3) secured the victory over gane (13-2) with a first-round finish, continuing his impressive streak of three consecutive wins, all ending within the first minute and 13 seconds. Currently ranked No. 4 in ESPN’s men’s pound-for-pound rankings, Aspinall’s performance solidified his position as a dominant force in the heavyweight division. Gane, ranked No. 2 in the ESPN heavyweight top 10, suffered his second career defeat in a title bout.
The strawweight contest saw Jandiroba (22-3) avenge her previous loss to Dern (15-5), winning the title after their first encounter in 2020 ended in a unanimous decision victory for Dern. Jandiroba, No. 10 in ESPN’s women’s pound-for-pound rankings and No. 2 at strawweight, demonstrated her evolution as a fighter. Dern, previously ranked No. 6 at 115 pounds, fell short in her bid for championship glory.
Live coverage and analysis of UFC 321 were provided by Brett Okamoto, Andreas Hale, Jeff wagenheim, and Dre Waters.
