Din Thomas can’t help it; he’s not impressed by the UFC 321 co-main event.
This Saturday, UFC 321 goes down in Abu Dhabi, and in the co-main event, Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern fight for the flyweight title recently vacated by Zhang Weili. As with any vacant title fight, the shadow of the former champion, Zhang, looms large over it; so large that Thomas can’t help but be unenthused but the matchup.
”I mean this with all due respect,” Thomas said on the On Paper with Anthony Smith podcast. “I’m trying to be as respectful [as possible], but has there ever been a more insignificant title fight in the history — not, maybe, in the history, but in the last, recent memory? You get where I’m coming from, right? No one seems to even care of have batted an eye at this fight.”
Thomas is not the only person who feels this way, as Smith, a former UFC light heavyweight title challenger, agreed with Thomas, but went a step further, saying Jandiroba winning would be a “marketing nightmare” for the UFC.
Luckily, at least according to Thomas, the UFC shouldn’t have to worry about that. Jandiroba and Dern already fought once before, in 2020, with Dern winning a unanimous decision. And Thomas believes she’s likely to get her hand raised once again on Saturday.
“If you look at some of Mackenzie’s performances, part of me thinks that she has a little Kevin Holland thing going on where she just hasn’t reached her potential,” Thomas said. “Because I think she’s better — it’s weird to say this because she’s fighting for a title, but I think she’s better than what she’s ever showed.
“Her performance against Angela Hill, that had to be a nightmare for Angela Hill trying to get through that fight. Mackenzie Dern, she punches as hard as anybody in the division, she grapples as well as anybody in the division, she’s got gas for days, she doesn’t get tired, it’s just sometimes she doesn’t seem like she even cares about fighting. …
“She’s really good on the ground, she’s very athletic, and she’s born for this,” Thomas continued. “She’s been in combat her entire life. I feel as though, if she takes it seriously, I think she should win this fight very handily.”
TOP STORIES
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Swim. Tom Aspinall responds to Ciryl Gane’s plan to take him to ‘deep waters’ at UFC 321.
Rematch. Umar Nurmagomedov explains Merab Dvalishvili feud: ‘He knows what’s going to happen’ in rematch.
Hopes. Robert Whittaker would ‘love’ to fight Sean Strickland at UFC White House.
Preparation. Jake Paul prepares for Tank Davis with backyard beatdown of influencer.
VIDEO STEW
UFC 321 media day.
Mackenzie Dern UFC 321 open workout.
UFC 321 pre-fight press conference.
GSP’s picks.
UFC 321 Embedded.
FLAVOR IN YOUR EAR
No Bets Barred.
SOCIAL MEDIA BOUILLABAISSE
Well, Andy?
Paddy X Joshua
Marcus McGhee is such a vibe.
Probably the only thing I can do better than Kayla Harrison.
The next generation.
Back in the saddle.
FIGHT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Jalin Turner (14-9) vs. Edson Barboza (24-13); UFC 323, Dec. 6.
Maycee Barber (14-2) vs. Karine Silva (19-5); UFC 323, Dec. 6.
FINAL THOUGHTS
I really like Din Thomas, and I’m not even saying he’s wrong, but he should not be saying that considering he works for the UFC. Heck, same goes for Anthony Smith. Perhaps even more so since it’s not like Smith’s title shot was the most highly-anticipated fight of all time.
Also, he is wrong, because it’s finally Mackenzie Dern season, people! Me and Shaheen Al-Shatti are the only people who never got off the island and now look at us, we’re sitting in high cotton now, baby! The Dern Era begins on Saturday. — Meshew
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