With surging talks of a superfight between UFC champions Zhang Weili and Valentina Shevchenko in 2025, Mackenzie Dern has thrown her name in the mix for a shot at the strawweight title against 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 three times with dominant performances while Shevchenko recently beat Manon Fiorot for her first defense since in her second run as champion — there were seven successful defenses between 2019 and 2022.
The success of both champions could lead to a clash of titleholders later this year, and Dern is hoping that the promotion’s recent 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 were forced to vacate belts when moving up divisions, and the same could happen with Zhang if she goes to flyweight.
“Maybe Weili moves up for Valentina and that clears the belt in our division,” Dern told MMA Fighting. “That’s what it’s being talked, but nothing is confirmed.”
Jandiroba is the clear No. 1 contender at strawweight, extending her winning streak to five in a row with a one-sided decision over Yan Xiaonan in April. The former Invicta FC champion also beat Amanda Lemos and Marina Rodriguez in the octagon, for a UFC record of 8-3 with four finishes.
Dern is on a two-fight winning streak, including a submission over Amanda Ribas to avenge a previous loss, and was one of the three women to beat Jandiroba in the UFC. Dern won a decision over Jandiroba in 2020, and scored five stoppages is 10 octagon victories.
“I want to fight someone who’s coming off a win, someone ranked ahead of me — the UFC wants that, too,” Dern said. “My plan was to fight three times this year and end the year fighting for the belt, but it’s taking too long.
“But now that I’m coming off two wins over girls that were behind me in the rankings, I have to fight someone ahead next. Tatiana [Suarez] is coming off a loss and will take her some time to fight again, so Virna is the fight to make.”
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