UFC 321 Co-Main Event Called “Insignificant” Despite Strawweight Title Stakes
Former UFC fighter and current analyst Din Thomas has expressed strong criticism of the UFC 321 co-main event, calling it an “insignificant” title fight despite it being for the vacant women’s strawweight championship. The bout, which features Mackenzie Dern facing Virna Jandiroba, was elevated to title status after former champion Zhang Weili vacated her belt to move up and challenge Valentina Shevchenko for the flyweight crown at UFC 322.
Thomas, known for his candid takes, argued that the matchup lacks the kind of star power and narrative depth fans expect from a UFC title fight. While acknowledging the skills and dedication of both competitors, he emphasized that the fight doesn’t carry the weight or excitement that championship bouts usually do. According to him, the fight feels more like a placeholder than a defining moment in the strawweight division.
“Just because there’s a belt on the line doesn’t automatically make it a meaningful fight,” Thomas said during a recent broadcast. He added that the strawweight division has lost some of its momentum since Zhang Weili’s departure, and the UFC’s quick decision to fill the vacancy hasn’t done much to generate buzz.
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Mackenzie Dern, known for her elite Brazilian jiu-jitsu and improving striking, is coming off a series of mixed results in the octagon. Her opponent, Virna Jandiroba, has quietly built a strong record with her grappling-heavy style and resilience, but she, too, has yet to make a major breakthrough in terms of mainstream recognition.
Thomas believes that while the fight may determine who holds the title, it won’t redefine the division or capture fan attention the way previous strawweight champions like Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Rose Namajunas, or Zhang Weili did.
Despite the harsh critique, many fans see this bout as an opportunity for either Dern or Jandiroba to seize the spotlight and inject new energy into a division in transition. Whether the fight lives up to championship expectations remains to be seen, but Thomas’s comments have undoubtedly sparked debate about what truly makes a UFC title fight significant.
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