UFC 321 - Aspinall/Gane + vacated belt Dern v Virna J
Posted: Thu Oct 23, 2025 6:07 pm
A big night of fights and one I'm pretty excited for, though keep in mind this is in Abu Dhabi and will begin at 10 East/7 AM Pacific on Saturday.
**** hell 7AM for fights for me though lol
Here's the fight card!
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
265 lbs - HW Title Fight
- Aspinall is the majority favourite, he should be. He can clip Gane and win. I do think Gane has a chance if he is adamant at keeping range and not engaging on the ground. One punch can change it for HWs... Still picking Tom. What else can I say ?
V. Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern 2
115 lbs - Women's StrawW Title Fight
- I'm not sure how this will go, Virna lost to Dern 5 years ago to a DEC. That fight featured one TD from Virna and she was outstruck, and lost. It was on the feet and not the most engaging of bouts. I expect this title fight to have more fire to it and more attempts to secure a Submission as both are savvy with BJJ. It's a relative toss up by odds, and I picked VJ SUB4, though Dern looks pretty fit this week. Both have striking left to be desired
U. Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
135 lbs - suspected Title Contender fight for BantamW
- Dana wants this fight to be a good oen because it is likely Merab or Yan's next challenger depending on the result for both fights. I'm picking Umar who should have fan support in UAE, and is levels from what I've seen above Mario. That being said Bautista is surprising at times and it is MMA. He's a massive dog in this fight so I would say play it carefully.
A. Volkov vs. J. Almeida
265 lbs
- HWs on the main card, could go either way. Volkov and Gane's last fight was a point fight and not that exciting. Almeida is slick with grappling and Volkov is pretty dangerous on the ground too, so I'm curious where this fight goes.
A. Rakić vs. A. Murzakanov
205 lbs
- Rakic has fought a lot of LHW contenders and he has suffered a few losses but his matchups were difficult. It might be that he's just below that level. Azamat has not fought a stellar list of candidates but he has not lost a fight. I'm picking Murz KO2, but this is a dangerous one to fall into the hype of the undefeated Russian. Rakic can leg kick and has reach, can point win or KO, but he is hittable and that's what worries me. A slow start where Murz finds range means he will win. A slow start and continual slow fight favours Rakic.
N. Haqparast vs. Q. Salkilld
155 lbs
I. Aliskerov vs. Jun Yong Park
185 lbs
- Beware if this goes DEC for the judges
M. Rębecki vs. Ľudovít Klein
155 lbs
- Rebecki is tough but hittable, Klein will engage could be a bloody one. Odds on Klein but I'm picking Rebecki for some reason.
A. Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo
155 lbs
Valter Walker vs. L. Sutherland
265 lbs
- Walker is a submission ace (3 heel hooks in 3 UFC fights lol) I'm picking SUB2 Walker.
Jose Delgado vs. Nathaniel Wood
145 lbs
- Could be prelim FOTN, if you can catch it.
Chris Barnett vs. H. Abdelwahab
265 lbs
- Abelwahab has 3min of gas tank, Barnett has probably 7 or 8. This has ITD R1 flurry, or a lay and pray decision written all over it.
Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo
125 lbs
J. Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue
115 lbs
**** hell 7AM for fights for me though lol
Here's the fight card!
Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
265 lbs - HW Title Fight
- Aspinall is the majority favourite, he should be. He can clip Gane and win. I do think Gane has a chance if he is adamant at keeping range and not engaging on the ground. One punch can change it for HWs... Still picking Tom. What else can I say ?
V. Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern 2
115 lbs - Women's StrawW Title Fight
- I'm not sure how this will go, Virna lost to Dern 5 years ago to a DEC. That fight featured one TD from Virna and she was outstruck, and lost. It was on the feet and not the most engaging of bouts. I expect this title fight to have more fire to it and more attempts to secure a Submission as both are savvy with BJJ. It's a relative toss up by odds, and I picked VJ SUB4, though Dern looks pretty fit this week. Both have striking left to be desired
U. Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
135 lbs - suspected Title Contender fight for BantamW
- Dana wants this fight to be a good oen because it is likely Merab or Yan's next challenger depending on the result for both fights. I'm picking Umar who should have fan support in UAE, and is levels from what I've seen above Mario. That being said Bautista is surprising at times and it is MMA. He's a massive dog in this fight so I would say play it carefully.
A. Volkov vs. J. Almeida
265 lbs
- HWs on the main card, could go either way. Volkov and Gane's last fight was a point fight and not that exciting. Almeida is slick with grappling and Volkov is pretty dangerous on the ground too, so I'm curious where this fight goes.
A. Rakić vs. A. Murzakanov
205 lbs
- Rakic has fought a lot of LHW contenders and he has suffered a few losses but his matchups were difficult. It might be that he's just below that level. Azamat has not fought a stellar list of candidates but he has not lost a fight. I'm picking Murz KO2, but this is a dangerous one to fall into the hype of the undefeated Russian. Rakic can leg kick and has reach, can point win or KO, but he is hittable and that's what worries me. A slow start where Murz finds range means he will win. A slow start and continual slow fight favours Rakic.
N. Haqparast vs. Q. Salkilld
155 lbs
I. Aliskerov vs. Jun Yong Park
185 lbs
- Beware if this goes DEC for the judges
M. Rębecki vs. Ľudovít Klein
155 lbs
- Rebecki is tough but hittable, Klein will engage could be a bloody one. Odds on Klein but I'm picking Rebecki for some reason.
A. Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo
155 lbs
Valter Walker vs. L. Sutherland
265 lbs
- Walker is a submission ace (3 heel hooks in 3 UFC fights lol) I'm picking SUB2 Walker.
Jose Delgado vs. Nathaniel Wood
145 lbs
- Could be prelim FOTN, if you can catch it.
Chris Barnett vs. H. Abdelwahab
265 lbs
- Abelwahab has 3min of gas tank, Barnett has probably 7 or 8. This has ITD R1 flurry, or a lay and pray decision written all over it.
Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo
125 lbs
J. Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue
115 lbs