Virna Jandiroba Embraces Realism After UFC Vegas 115 Win

The strawweight contender knows she may have to wait for another title shot, but is eyeing a rematch with Mackenzie Dern.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:20pm

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After her UFC Fight Night 272 co-main event victory over Tabatha Ricci, Virna Jandiroba acknowledged that she may have to wait for another title shot, especially if former champion Zhang Weili returns to the division. Jandiroba is open to a rematch with Mackenzie Dern, whom she lost to in a title fight last October, but believes Weili should get the next crack at the belt if she moves back down to strawweight.

Why it matters

Jandiroba is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC strawweight division, and her willingness to take a realistic approach to her title aspirations shows maturity. With the division in flux, Jandiroba's next move will be an important one as she looks to work her way back to a championship opportunity.

The details

In her post-fight interview, Jandiroba expressed interest in an immediate rematch with Dern, the fighter she lost to in their title fight last October. However, she acknowledged that if former champion Zhang Weili returns to the division, Weili should get the next title shot. Jandiroba wants to fight Weili before she retires, believing that would be an important fight to understand Weili's capabilities. For now, Jandiroba plans to wait and see how the division shapes up in the coming months before determining her next move, targeting a return in the second quarter of 2027.

  • Jandiroba fought Dern for the then-vacant UFC strawweight title in October 2026.
  • Jandiroba defeated Tabatha Ricci in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 272 on April 5, 2027.

The players

Virna Jandiroba

A top-ranked UFC strawweight contender who recently lost a title fight to Mackenzie Dern but is now looking to work her way back to another championship opportunity.

Mackenzie Dern

The current UFC strawweight champion, who defeated Jandiroba in their title fight in October 2026.

Zhang Weili

The former UFC strawweight champion who moved up to flyweight to challenge Valentina Shevchenko, but was unsuccessful. Jandiroba believes Weili should get the next title shot if she returns to the strawweight division.

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What they’re saying

“It's a very hard question. I think the best option would be fighting those girls I want to face for the belt. If that would be possible, that would be ideal.”

— Virna Jandiroba, UFC Strawweight Contender

“Yeah, it has to be if Weili comes back. I know I said some stuff up there. But if Weili is back, it's her rightful spot to fight for the title. ... She should be able to beat Mackenzie. I still want to fight Mackenzie one more time, but I have to fight Weili before I retire. I think that's a fight that I need to get in there, feel what she has to offer, and get that understanding to what Weili is and what she represents for the division.”

— Virna Jandiroba, UFC Strawweight Contender

“I think second (quarter) would be ideal. It's not just about being healthy or anything but having the proper time to prepare, not just for the fight itself but for the weight cut and everything that revolves around the actual fight. There's a lot of intricate parts that work out better if you have time to prepare. And there are some fights going on in the division that we're going to wait to see what happens and how the division shapes up because there's a lot of stuff going on.”

— Virna Jandiroba, UFC Strawweight Contender

What’s next

Jandiroba plans to wait and see how the strawweight division shapes up in the coming months before determining her next move, targeting a return in the second quarter of 2027.

The takeaway

Jandiroba's willingness to take a realistic approach to her title aspirations, acknowledging the potential return of former champion Zhang Weili, shows a maturity that could serve her well as she navigates the competitive UFC strawweight division. Her desire to fight Weili before retiring indicates she is focused on testing herself against the best in the weight class.