UFC 321 hits the Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi tomorrow (Sat.). Prelims 10:00 a.m. ET (11:00 a.m. BRT) and Main Card 2:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. BRT) on ESPN+ PPV. Tom Aspinall defends the heavyweight title against Ciryl Gane, and the vacant strawweight belt is up for grabs in Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba as co-main.
How to watch
-
United States: ESPN+ PPV — Main Card 2:00 p.m. ET, Prelims 10:00 a.m. ET.
Venue & date: Etihad Arena (Abu Dhabi, UAE) — Saturday.
Official fight card (projected order)
Main Card — 2:00 p.m. ET (3:00 p.m. BRT)
-
Tom Aspinall (c) vs. Ciryl Gane — Heavyweight Title (Main Event)
-
Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba — Vacant Strawweight Title (Co-Main)
-
Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista — Bantamweight
-
Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida — Heavyweight
-
Aleksandar Rakić vs. Azamat Murzakanov — Light Heavyweight
Prelims — 10:00 a.m. ET (11:00 a.m. BRT)
-
Ikram Aliskerov vs. Jun Yong Park — Middleweight
-
Ľudovít Klein vs. Mateusz Rębecki — Lightweight
-
Nathaniel Wood vs. Jose Miguel Delgado — Featherweight
-
Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett — Heavyweight
-
Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo — Flyweight
-
Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki Inoue — Women’s Strawweight
-
(Note: Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo was canceled earlier this week.)
Heads-up: bout order can shuffle after ceremonial weigh-ins.
Three fights that will define the night
1) Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane — Heavyweight (5 rounds)
Storyline: Aspinall’s first undisputed defense; Gane seeks redemption in a third attempt at gold.
Tactical keys:
-
Aspinall: crisp level-changes, rear hand on the break, heavy GNP if he tops.
-
Gane: distance control, feints, lead-leg kicks to slow level-changes.
90-second tell: who owns center and reads the kicks first sets the tone.
2) Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba — Strawweight (5 rounds, vacant title)
Storyline: elite-grappler chess match where first back-take can tilt momentum and judging optics.
Tactical keys:
-
Dern: smart guard pulls into armbar/triangle chains.
-
Jandiroba: heavy top game, smashed half-guard, tempo to bank minutes under global criteria.
3) Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista — Bantamweight
Storyline: Umar’s timing, entries, and back control vs. Bautista’s veteran counters and scrambling savvy.
Tactical keys:
-
Umar: front kicks to mark range → level-change.
-
Bautista: first-layer sprawl and short elbows on entries.
Brazil watch
-
Virna Jandiroba fights for the vacant strawweight title;
-
Jailton Almeida meets Alexander Volkov at heavyweight;
-
Jaqueline Amorim features on the prelims; Mackenzie Dern (U.S.-born, raised in Brazil) brings strong BR fan pull as well.
First-90-seconds checklist (any 5-rounder)
-
Center line: winner controls cage cuts and entries.
-
First clear damage moment: KD, cut from an elbow, or near-sub swings optics early.
-
Corner adjustments: champs/contenders who change tempo fast usually own R2 onward.
Quick FAQ
Exact Brazil times?
Prelims 11:00 a.m. BRT, Main Card 3:00 p.m. BRT (from ET).
Where is it?
Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi (UAE).
How many titles?
Two: Heavyweight (Aspinall vs. Gane) and vacant Strawweight (Dern vs. Jandiroba).
Any cancellations?
Yes — Al-Selwady vs. Matheus Camilo was scratched mid-week.
With an early window, two titles, and a deep supporting cast, UFC 321 is set up for big numbers in Abu Dhabi. If Aspinall imposes entries and break-power, he keeps the strap; if Gane dictates range and chews the base, expect a longer, tighter chess match. In the co-main, Dern vs. Jandiroba promises high-level grappling drama. Set your reminders, scan the card, and enjoy fight night.
-
Comment: which title is more likely to change hands—heavyweight or strawweight?
-
Subscribe: get our results + bonuses and post-event matchmaking on Sunday.