Mackenzie Dern's long and winding journey to UFC gold reached its destination on Saturday night as the Brazilian jiu-jitsu phenom captured the vacant strawweight championship with a hard-fought decision victory over Virna Jandiroba at UFC 321 in Abu Dhabi . The co-main event at Etihad Arena saw Dern prove she belongs at the pinnacle of the 115-pound division, repeating her 2020 victory over Jandiroba but this time with championship stakes on the line. Expand Tweet

The 32-year-old Arizona native now becomes the ninth champion in UFC strawweight history, cementing her legacy after a rollercoaster UFC career that has seen remarkable highs and difficult lows. For Dern, who entered the fight ranked fifth in the division, the victory represents vindication after years of inconsistency that s

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