Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Strawweight standout Mackenzie Dern takes on Virna Jandiroba for the vacant 115-pound title at UFC 321 this weekend (Sat., Oct. 25, 2025) inside Etihad Arena on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
As most fans know, before becoming a UFC title contender, Dern was one of Brazilian jiu-jitsu’s brightest stars, boasting an extraordinary resume that includes world championships at every belt level — from blue to black. She captured multiple IBJJF World titles (gold in 58kg in 2015 and 2016), No-Gi World titles (including absolute gold in 2015), and, of course, an ADCC gold medal.
But one of Dern’s biggest accomplishments didn’t come with a medal — it came in the form of a victory over the towering Gabi Garcia. In their five career matchups, Garcia won the first four, but Dern’s lone win became one of the most talked-about upsets in women’s grappling history.
Their rivalry began long before Dern ever laced up four-ounce gloves, and it quickly became one of the most fascinating storylines in women’s BJJ.
Their first meeting came at the 2013 Pan American Championship in Abu Dhabi. Garcia, standing 6’2” and outweighing Dern by nearly 100 pounds, used her size and top pressure to smother her smaller opponent, eventually forcing a tap via clock choke.
They met again a year later at the 2014 No-Gi Worlds, where Dern’s speed and technique gave her early success. However, Garcia’s physical dominance prevailed once more as she locked in an Americana submission.
The pair clashed three more times in 2015, with Garcia continuing her winning streak — securing victories via clock choke and bread cutter submissions. But their final encounter, at the 2015 World Jiu-Jitsu Championship, marked a turning point. This time, Dern finally got her revenge — sort of.
Garcia once again controlled the action early, using her size to stay on top. However, under a new rule prohibiting communication with the referee, Garcia was penalized for speaking to the official after scoring a takedown. That point deduction cost her the match, and Dern held on to score a massive upset that sent shockwaves through the grappling world.
Now, as she prepares to fight for UFC gold at UFC 321, it’s hard not to reflect on her legendary rivalry with Garcia. Long before she was chasing championships in the Octagon, Mackenzie Dern proved she could overcome giants — literally.
Remember that MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 321 fight card, starting with the ESPN+/Disney+/FX “Prelims” matches online, which are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. ET, before the main card start time at 2 p.m. ET (also on ESPN+).
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