UFC 321 is just around the corner.
This Saturday, Tom Aspinall will defend his heavyweight title for the first time against Ciryl Gane. In the co-main event, Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern will compete for the vacant strawweight championship.
Here are three major storylines as the UFC returns to the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Who Faces More Pressure: Aspinall or Gane?
Heading into UFC 321, the spotlight is mostly on Aspinall as he faces immense pressure. He has spent nearly two years calling out Jon Jones, accusing the legendary fighter of avoiding him, and he finally became heavyweight champion earlier this year after Jones retired. This is his chance to prove himself as the top contender by defeating Gane. It would be quite ironic if he were to lose quickly in this matchup.
However, Gane might actually feel even greater pressure. The 35-year-old French fighter has challenged for the undisputed title twice before, suffering losses to both Jones and Francis Ngannou. This could be his last realistic shot at securing a championship, especially since his last victory—a disputed split decision over Alexander Volkov—left many unconvinced.
A New Era for the Strawweight Division Without Zhang Weili
The UFC strawweight division is entering a transition phase. With Zhang Weili planning to vacate her title and move up to flyweight for a superfight against Valentina Shevchenko, a new champion will be crowned—either Jandiroba or Dern.
It’s been quite some time since the strawweight title was not held by a fighter from Handan, China. Zhang regained the title in 2022 and has since defended it three times, establishing her as one of the most dominant champions in UFC history. Without her, the division might feel less vibrant, and it will be challenging for Jandiroba or Dern to convince fans they are the top fighters at 115 pounds.
Is Umar Nurmagomedov Fighting for Another Shot at the Title?
Umar Nurmagomedov returns for the first time since losing to Merab Dvalishvili in January while contending for the bantamweight title. Despite the loss, Nurmagomedov impressed many by showcasing his skills, making him appear to be the clear No. 2 in the division and signaling that a rematch with Dvalishvili could happen in the future.
This potential rematch could materialize quickly if Nurmagomedov wins against Mario Bautista on Saturday. Dvalishvili, currently striving to dominate the 135-pound division, has had to deal with rematches due to a lack of viable challengers. After his upcoming fight against Petr Yan at UFC 323, Nurmagomedov could emerge as the next contender for a title shot, especially if he secures a win this weekend.
