We are heading back to Abu Dhabi as UFC 321 features a bout for the Heavyweight Champion between the defending champ, Tom Aspinall, and Ciryl Gane.
The card also features a bout for the vacant Women’s Strawweight title between two long-time contenders in Mackenzie Dern and Virna Jandiroba. We have a great night of fights in store.
Today, I will break down my 3 favorite bets for this weekend’s fight card. Let’s get into it!
This is a tough matchup for Rebecki, coming only two months after an absolute war with Chris Duncan. Rebecki is the type of fighter to stay in your face and apply constant pressure with his mix of wrestling and striking. However, that is the type of fight Klein is built for. He is a very sharp striker with solid wrestling defense. He also boasts a six-inch reach advantage in this one.
Rebecki needs to try and turn this into a grappling match if he wants to have a chance, in my opinion. Klein is solid with his defense, and if Rebecki wants a win here, he needs to play it just like his fellow Polish native Mateusz Gamrot, in Klein's last fight.
Gamrot applied constant pressure and tough striking; however, I think he is at a higher level than Rebecki. I think Klein will take advantage of this quick turnaround for Rebecki and win this one with a solid game plan coming off a loss to a similar fighter.
MY PICK: L’udovit Klein -140
This should be a fun title bout between two of the best grapplers in Women’s MMA. Dern is a longtime UFC vet with 15 UFC fights under her belt, and she is finally getting a chance to fight for the belt.
She has looked solid in her last two fights, both against solid opponents; however, Virna will be the toughest of that stretch. Virna is 8-3 in her UFC career and is coming into this one on a 5-fight win streak. However, we haven't seen her in a 5-round fight before, which Dern has done 3 times.
This fight is going to come down to who is the superior grappler in my eyes, and I think that is Dern. These two fought back in 2020, but a lot has changed since Dern won by decision in that one. Dern, in my eyes, has an advantage on the ground; however, she will need to show her wrestling defense against Virna, who will be constantly pressuring throughout the fight.
I think Dern will pull off a decision once again in this one with superior striking and a strong enough BJJ game from her back to avoid being mauled for long periods of time.
MY PICK: Mackenzie Dern -142
This fight is the first of the post-Jon Jones era, and we will once again see Ciryl Gane fight for the belt. Gane is a great fighter; the only issue is his wrestling. If he has the ability to stand on his feet, he can contend with anyone.
However, he is taking on Tom Aspinall, who has shown himself to be a very smart fighter throughout his career. Aspinall is the current Interim champ, which I don’t love, being that Jon Jones was holding out for one fight, but it is what it is. In his two defenses as the Interim champ, Aspinall won by first-round finish against tough opponents.
Aspinall has freakish power, and he is good wherever the fight may bring him. His biggest advantage over Gane has got to be his wrestling, and I am very much expecting him to use that early and often.
Even the threat of that wrestling can set up his power strikes, which I think will also play a role in this fight. Gane is a tough opponent, I just think Aspinall is one of the best Heavyweights we’ve seen in a while. The odds aren’t great here, but I think this is a pretty safe bet.
MY PICK: Tom Aspinall to Win in Rounds 1-2 -135