Fighters Only : UFC 321 Main Card Breakdown: Aspinall, Jandiroba, and Key Contender Bouts

Paul Browne

Oct 23, 2025

Tom Aspinall finally gets his chance to walk into the Octagon as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world this weekend. After a chaotic, confusing, and frustrating two years since winning the interim title, the UK star will look to put the Jon Jones debacle behind him when he faces Ciryl Gane in the main event at UFC 321 on Saturday.

The vacant women’s strawweight title will be on the line in the co-main event, while the next title shots in the heavyweight and bantamweight divisions may also be at stake.

Here’s a look at the main card action taking place at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi this Saturday.

Main Event: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane (UFC Heavyweight Championship)

Having never gone the distance in his UFC career, Tom Aspinall (15-3 MMA, 8-1 UFC) may finally have the chance to answer questions about his heart, staying power, and durability this weekend against Ciryl Gane (13-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC). Aspinall’s average fight time of 2:02 in the Octagon is the shortest in heavyweight division history, and all 15 of his professional wins have come inside the distance.

Against Gane, Aspinall will face an opponent with the highest significant strike defense percentage (61.9%) in the division, meaning his biggest challenge may be simply landing clean shots. If he struggles to connect, the heavyweight champion could be tested over the full 25 minutes.

Gane’s grappling ability adds another layer of intrigue. The former interim champion was exposed when Jon Jones took him down and submitted him in 2023. Could Aspinall be tempted to pursue a similar approach, and if so, what adjustments has Gane made over the past two and a half years?

Big questions are about to be answered this weekend.

Virna Jandiroba vs. Mackenzie Dern (UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship)

Grappling fans could be in for a treat when Virna Jandiroba (22-3 MMA, 8-3 UFC) and Mackenzie Dern (15-5 MMA, 10-5 UFC) go toe-to-toe for the vacant strawweight belt in Saturday’s co-main event.

Their first encounter—a decision win for Dern back in 2020—carries little relevance for this weekend’s bout, given how much both fighters have developed since then. Jandiroba’s five-fight win streak has cemented her status as a top contender for the belt recently vacated by Zhang Weili, while Dern sees this opportunity as the culmination of her life’s work. The former multi-time Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu world champion has diligently rounded out her skill set and looks poised to take the next step in her career by capturing UFC gold this Saturday.

Jandiroba has landed takedowns on all but one of her 11 UFC opponents, and with three submission wins to her name, she sits second only to Dern (five) for the most submission finishes in divisional history.

Mario Bautista vs. Umar Nurmagomedov (Bantamweight)

Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) makes his long-awaited return to the Octagon this weekend when he takes on Mario Bautista (16-2 MMA, 10-2 UFC) in a pivotal bantamweight clash. After suffering the first loss of his career against Merab Dvalishvili earlier this year, Nurmagomedov is looking to bounce back in style and reassert himself as one of the division’s top contenders.

Bautista, meanwhile, has been a rising force in the bantamweight ranks, combining heavy hands with unorthodox striking and a dangerous ground game. He’ll be looking to capitalize on Nurmagomedov’s recent loss and prove he belongs in the upper echelon of the division.

Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida (Heavyweight)

Alexander Volkov (36-9 MMA, 22-7 UFC) returns to the Octagon to face Jailton Almeida (18-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) in a heavyweight showdown that could shake up the division. After a series of ups and downs in recent years, Volkov will be looking to reestablish himself as a serious contender among the elite heavyweights.

Almeida, on the other hand, is a rising powerhouse with exceptional grappling skills. The Brazilian has shown the ability to finish fights on the ground, making him a dangerous test for any opponent.

Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov (Light Heavyweight)

Aleksandar Rakić (15-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) returns to action against Azamat Murzakanov (15-1 MMA, 2-0 UFC) in a light heavyweight clash. Rakić, a seasoned striker with crisp technique and heavy hands, has faced some of the division’s top talent and will be looking to get back on track after 3 losses in a row.

He faces a tough test in Murzakanov, who has stopped four of his five UFC opponents inside the distance.