Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC
Rising women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern will make her return to the Octagon against fellow Brazilian fighter Virna Jandiroba at UFC 256 on Dec. 12, per a recent report by MMA Fighting.
Nothing is official at this time, but it’s likely that Dern vs. Jandiroba is booked as part of the pay-per-view (PPV) main card. Dern has been featured on a main card in each of her last four UFC appearances.
Dern, 27, is currently 4-1 inside of the UFC’s 115-pound division. The BJJ prodigy is coming off a slick first-round submission over veteran Randa Markos back in September (highlights HERE). Her only professional loss came against the red-hot Amanda Ribas one year ago. Another win or two and Dern could quickly find herself in title contention in late 2021, especially if those wins turn out to be finishes.
Jandiroba, 32, is coming off a masterful performance against Felice Herrig back in August in which she scored a quick first-round submission (see it HERE). Outside of her UFC debut loss to former champion Carla Esparza, Jandiroba is undefeated throughout her professional career and has finished 13 out of her 16 wins via submission. It’s going to be interesting to what the former Invicta FC strawweight champion can do against a world-class grappler like Dern.
UFC 256, which will take place live on ESPN+ PPV from inside UFC APEX in Las Vegas, will be headlined by a women’s featherweight title fight between current champion Amanda Nunes and top contender Megan Anderson. A welterweight clash between champion Kamaru Usman and Gilbert Burns was originally pegged as the headlining act, but that 170-pound matchup has since been pulled.
Stick with Mania for more UFC 256 fight card news.