After a successful outing in Vancouver last week, the UFC returns to ‘The City of Gold’ for its 22nd event this weekend. At UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi, the future of more than one division hangs in the balance. Fighters are determined to make their mark, leaving no stone unturned in training and focusing on their upcoming bouts to silence critics. Amid the high-stakes atmosphere, all eyes are on the women’s strawweight co-main event, where Mackenzie Dern will face No. 1-ranked contender Virna Jandiroba—the only female fight on the main card.

On a card largely dominated by male fighters, the bout draws attention partly because of the American-Brazilian’s undeniable appeal. Widely respected for both her skill and marketability, Dern enters the fight with a 2–2 record over her last four Octagon appearances, aiming to extend her winning streak to three. Meanwhile, Virna Jandiroba holds the No. 1 contender spot in the division, just one step away from a title shot; yet, Dern has clearly become the standout fan favorite for the upcoming UFC 321 pay-per-view.

With the event just days away, excitement is mounting, amplified by the UFC 321 embedded vlog series on YouTube. At 3:30 in the episode, viewers see Dern and her teammate poolside in swimsuits, enjoying drinks. An internet personality on X shared the clip, noting, “Dern is drinking at the day club on embedded while Virna is grinding in the shadows😤,” which immediately drew attention on social media.

Fans criticized Mackenzie Dern for taking time to relax in Abu Dhabi while her opponent remained focused on training. The debate intensified as fans voiced their disapproval of the UFC social media team’s choice of thumbnail. Many reacted negatively, arguing that it objectified the fighter and expressed their displeasure on X.

Mackenzie Dern draws fan backlash ahead of UFC 321

The UFC’s approach to fight promotion and marketing has faced growing criticism. Observers point out that Dana White now announces bouts live, moving away from the cinematic-style trailers that once built massive anticipation, such as the iconic Conor McGregor vs. José Aldo build-ups. Recent embedded countdown videos have struggled to reach significant viewership milestones; for instance, at UFC 320 earlier this year, one embedded vlog drew fewer than 550,000 views—one of the lowest totals in recent memory—despite featuring high-profile fighters like Alex Pereira and Merab Dvalishvili.

With Mackenzie Dern appearing in a bikini, fans have been quick to voice their opinions online. One remarked, “They know Dern is marketable, but nobody really cares about Virna.” Another added, “Probably loses but I’m here for the content lmao.” Meanwhile, Virna Jandiroba, riding a five-fight winning streak enters the upcoming women’s strawweight bout as the underdog. The UFC 321 embedded video has already amassed 289.5K views in just 21 hours.

Supporters remain confident in Virna Jandiroba’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills, with one fan declaring, “Virna is my personal goat. She will become female Pantoja. I feel it.” Heading into the upcoming bout, ‘Carcará’ holds the No. 1 contender spot in the division and comes off a five-fight winning streak, including notable victories over Yan Xiaonan and Amanda Lemos. Despite her top ranking, a fan noted, “And Virna is +140 underdog,” while Mackenzie Dern sits at No. 5 in the division.

At the same time, attention has turned to Mackenzie Dern’s poolside behavior. Specifically, at the center of the discussion is what she’s drinking. One fan wrote, “I hope you know they are drinking water.” Additionally, concerns about weight cutting have also surfaced. With the fight less than a week away in Abu Dhabi, alcohol use has sparked debate. Fighters like Ilia Topuria reportedly use wine or other types of alcohol to aid weight cuts, as it helps with hydration.

One fan speculated, “Alcohol helps with dehydration sooo maybe that’s it.” Whether Mackenzie Dern is drinking water or alcohol remains uncertain, but nevertheless, fans are criticizing the UFC’s tactics for leveraging her glamour to sell fights. One wrote, “Why is the UFC selling the bath water on their website?” Another added, “That VOSS water sure is gonna have it where she will be at a huge disadvantage this weekend! MAX bet Virna now!”

With just a week to go, UFC 321 is already commanding attention across the MMA world. What’s your take on the co-main event? Can Mackenzie Dern extend her winning streak against the No. 1-ranked Virna Jandiroba? Share your opinion below.