UFC 256- Mackenzie Dern vs Virna Jandiroba : Prediction and Analysis

UFC Strawweight Mackenzie Dern is looking at the Strawweight title in 2021. Dern, 27, has only lost once in her professional career, that loss being to Amanda Ribas at UFC Fight Night 161 – Jedrzejczyk vs. Waterson. She has since bounced back with two consecutive wins and is looking more focused as she looks for a title shot next year.

UFC 256 will be the last PPV card of this year for the promotion. It will be headlined by Flyweight champion Deiveson Figueiredo taking on Brandon Moreno. Tony Ferguson returns to face Charles Oliveira in the co-main event.

Mackenzie Dern vs Virna Jandiroba, two jiu-jitsu experts

Mackenzie Dern (9-1) will face Virna Jandiroba (16-1) in the third fight of the main card. She trains with Jason Parillo and believes their work is paying off immediately. She is currently ranked #11 in the UFC strawweight division.

This will be a meaningful fight at strawweight, as Jandiroba is currently ranked at #13. The Brazilian, five years senior to Dern, will be looking at getting her third win in the UFC. Both fighters have one loss each in their career and are both on the back of a two-fight win streak.

Dern dominated her first seven opponents, winning four of them by submission. She would then face fellow prospect, Amanda Ribas.

While most fans expected this to be another win for Dern, Ribas had other plans. She was clearly in a different class on the feet in the fight, even taking the American down twice.

However, Mackenzie Dern would put the setback behind her as she earned two first-round submissions. She earned two ‘performance of the night’ bonuses submitting Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos. Dern is a jiu-jitsu phenom and will be looking to showcase her skills with another submission win.

Both fighters are on a two-fight win streak

Virna Jandiroba (16-1) can be considered the most dangerous jiu-jitsu practitioner at strawweight outside Dern. The Brazilian has 13 wins by submission out of her 16 career wins. She entered the UFC on the back of 11 submissions and was paired up against Carla Esparza. Ultimately, it was the former champion who got the decision to win over a game Jandiroba. Like her opponent Dern, Jandiroba is also on the back of two consecutive submission victories, against Mallory Martin and Felice Herrig.

While both fighters are 2-0 in their last two fights, Mackenzie Dern is regarded as a truly special prospect. Back her to get the submission win at UFC 256.

Prediction: Mackenzie Dern via submission

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