Vilna Jandirova is not the same fighter who faced Mackenzie Dern five years ago.
Jandiroba, who succumbed to BJJ’s bombshell via unanimous decision in December 2020, could get his ultimate revenge when he faces Dern for the undisputed strawweight world title at UFC 321 on October 25th.
Since losing to Dern, Jandiroba has amassed a solid 6-1 record and enters her chance to win her first UFC title with five straight wins, including a second-round submission win over Amanda Lemos and a decisive decision win over Yan Xiaonan.
“I’ve changed a lot over the last five years,” Jandiroba told MMA Junkie. “I spent a lot of time getting to know myself better and improving not only as an athlete but as a person. I feel like a different woman now. More aware, more balanced, which naturally made me a better fighter. The technical improvements are obvious, but the most important changes have been mental. I’ve learned to be kinder to myself, and I think most people would improve their quality of life if they did the same.”
Vilna Jandirova praises Dern’s evolution over the past five years
Jandiroba also acknowledged that her opponent has improved significantly since their first encounter.
“As a fighter, Mackenzie has definitely evolved,” Jandiroba continued. “I can see her striking and wrestling clearly improving, areas that were always questionable before. She’s a much better MMA fighter than she was five years ago. She shouldn’t be too hard on herself.”
Dern has had the same success as Jandiroba in recent years and stands as the front-runner to potentially leave Abu Dhabi with the 115-pound crown on Saturday night.