UFC 321 live results: Aspinall vs. Gane, Jandiroba vs. Dern
The annual October trip for the Octagon to Abu Dhabi for a major pay-per-view event is upon us as two title fights headline UFC 321 at the Etihad Arena.
The main event sees UFC Heavyweight Champion Tom Aspinall making his first title defense since being named the undisputed champion as he defends against former Interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Ciryl Gane. Aspinall had two title wins in interim titles, and has won three straight fights overall. Gane gets another chance at becoming champion on the heels of two straight wins.
The co-main event will see a new champion crowned at 115 pounds as Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern rematch for the vacant UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship. The title became vacant after Zhang Weili decided to move to 125 pounds. Dern holds a win over Jandiroba, coming in December 2020.
The rest of the main card features fights all between ranked fighters as Umar Nurmagomedov battles Mario Bautista in a bantamweight bout; Alexander Volkov squares off against Jailton Almeida in a potential title eliminator bout in the heavyweight division; and Aleksandar Rakic takes on Azamat Murzakanov in a light heavyweight tilt.
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> Women’s Strawweights- Jaqueline Amorim (10-1, 4-1 UFC) vs. Mizuki Inoue (15-6, 2-1 UFC)
Amorim rushing forward and both are landing early. Amorim lands a leg kick then a body kick. Inoue lands a right hand as Amorim is throwng kicks. Inoue controlling the range. Amorim scores a takedown. They scramble up and Amorim gets the back and drags it back down. Amorim is working for a choke and has it locked in at a weird angle, and Inoue is able to get out, though Amorim gets the full mount. Inoue is able to reverse and now is inside the guard of Amorim and landing. Inoue lands some big shots that hurt Amorim to end the round. 10-9 Inoue.
They trade to start the second. Amorim lands a right hand but is circling around. Amorim shoots for a takedown but Inoue sprawls. They clinch against the fence and Inoue is landing some short shots. Inoue gets a takedown and works from the half-guard. They get to their feet, but Amorim pulls guard and Inoue is back on top landing punches and elbows. Inoue postures up and lands as she gets back inside the guard of Amorim. Amorim looks for an arm but Inoue escapes and lands. 10-9 Inoue, 20-18 Inoue.
They trade and clinch up and Amorim lands some knees, but Inoue gets it back down to the mat. Inoue lands from the top before standing and Amorim is slow to get to her feet. They trade and a headbutt opens up a cut on Inoue. Inoue lands some body shots and Amorim looks for a takedown, but Inoue defends and ties up against the fence. Inoue lands some knees. Amorim falls to the mat and looks for a leg, but Inoue backs off, and Amorim is again slow to her feet. Inoue lands and Amorim shoots for a takedown, but Inoue defends. Inoue lands from the top. Inoue takes the back and lands as they get up. They are clinched against the fence and Inoue is landing. Inoue landing lots as they end it. 10-9 Inoue, 30-27 Inoue.
Fight Result- Mizuki Inoue def. Jaqueline Amorim by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
> Flyweights*- Azat Maksum (15-2, 1-2 UFC) vs. Mitch Raposo (9-3, 0-2 UFC)
*Maksum missed weight by three pounds
Raposo lands a big right hand. They trade punches as both are generally missing on their offense. Maksum lands a leg kick. Raposo lands a solid jab. Raposo puts some strikes together but they barely land. Maksum changes levels and scores a takedown. They get to their feet and Maksum gets it down for a moment, but they stand with Maksum on the back and landing some knees. Not much is happening as Maksum is just leaning on Raposo against the fence. Maksum lands as they break. Maksum lands a leg kick. 10-9 Maksum.
They trade and Maksum lands a leg kick. Raposo lands a solid combo and then lands an overhand right. Maksum fakes a takedown. They trade inside the pocket. Raposo lands again and ends with a right hand. Maksum lands a jab to the body and Raposo throws a combo that barely lands. Maksum shoots big for a takedown but Raposo slides away easily to defend. Raposo lands a combo. Maksum scores a takedown. Maksum is keeping Raposo down but not doing anything as Raposo gets up. 10-9 Raposo, 19-19.
Raposo throws a right hand, but Maksum ducks under and gets a brief takedown. They scramble up and Maksum has the back against the fence. Maksum is dropping down and trying to get it down and briefly did as Raposo scrambles right back up. Raposo is able to force a separation. Raposo lands a combo. Raposo lands a right hand. Maksum looks for a takedown, but Raposo defends. Maksum shoots for a takedown and pushes it against the fence. Raposo is defending and Maksum drops down, and Raposo is able to escape. They trade. Raposo lands a left hook. Maksum shoots for a takedown but Rapsoo defends and grabs the neck and gets on top. Maksum grabs the fence and uses it to reverse, but the referee calls timeout to take the position away and takes a point away from Maksum. Maksum shoots for a takedown but Raposo defends, and Raposo puts it against the fence. Maksum gets a brief takedown late, but Raposo gets right up. 10-8 Raposo, 29-27 Raposo.
Fight Result- Mitch Raposo def. Azat Maksum by unanimous decision (30-26, 29-27, 29-27)
> Heavyweights- Hamdy Abdelwahab (4-1 1 NC, 1-1 1 NC UFC) vs. Chris Barnett (23-9, 2-3 UFC)
Abdelwahab lands a body kick and then scores a takedown. He lands from the top and Barnett gives up his back. Abdelwahab is landing lots of punches as Barnett gets up. Abdelwahab drags it back down. Abdelwahab with more right hands as Barnett gets to his feet, but Abdelwahab drags it down again. They get up and Abdelwahab gets it back down. Abdelwahab has the back and lands but Barnett scrambles up and they trade. Abdelwahab gets another takedown and has the back as Barnett is cut open around the ear. Abdelwahab with some big punches. Abdelwahab lands an elbow to the back of the head and Marc Goddard stops it and warns Abdelwahab as timeout is called. Abdelwahab has a point taken away. They get back going and Abdelwahab looks for a takedown, but Barnett defends and lands some knees. Abdelwahab lands a pair of elbows before they break. They trade clubbing right hands. Barnett lands a right hand. Abdelwahab lands some kicks and a right hand. 9-9 round due to the point deduction to Abdelwahab.
Barnett lands a right hand and they trade leg kicks with Barnett landing a few more. They trade and Abdelwahab gets a takedown and has back control. Abdelwahab with lots of punches from the back as Barnett gets to his feet. Abdelwahab grabs the body and takes it right back down. Abdelwahab with lots of shots on the ground as Barnett is just crawling around but not escaping. Both are exhausted. They get to their feet and Abdelwahab has the back before Barnett escapes with a full moon displaying. 10-9 Abdelwahab, 19-18 Abdelwahab.
Both miss on throwing punches. They trade leg kicks. Barnett with an inside leg kick. Abdelwahab lands a big right hand. Abdelwahab gets an easy takedown. Abdelwahab has the back and lands lots of punches. Barnett is trying to escape, but Abdelwahab keeps control on the mat. Abdelwahab lands but they are stood up by Goddard. Abdelwahab lands a leg kick and follows with a jab. They tie up against the fence and Abdelwahab lands a knee. Abdelwahab trips it back down to the mat. What a boring fight. 10-9 Abdelwahab, 29-27 Abdelwahab.
Fight Result- Hamdy Abdelwahab def. Chris Barnett by unanimous decision (29-26, 29-27, 29-27)
> Featherweights*- Nathaniel Wood (21-6, 9-3 UFC) vs. Jose Delgado (10-1, 2-0 UFC)
*Delgado missed weight by one pound
They trade kicks and Wood lands a combination. Wood with a jab as Delgado landed a low kick. Timeout is called, but Wood is quickly ready to go. Wood lands a leg kick and they trade combinations. Both are landing as Delgado comes forward. Delgado lands a high kick and the rocks Wood with a big combo. Delgado drops Wood with a spinning back fist and starts landing from the top. Delgado with some body shots from the top. He starts landing right hands. Wood tries to scramble out. Delgado has the back as they get to the fence and stand. Delgado lands an elbow as they break. They trade and Wood lands a right hand that hurts Delgado and knocks him down. Delgado gets up and they start trading wild shots. Delgado lands a right hand. 10-9 Delgado.
They trade and Wood lands a leg kick and Delgado counters with a right hand. Delgado lands another right hand and a knee. Wood lands a right hand. Wood pushes it against the fence with the body lock, and he gets a brief trip takedown, but Delgado gets right back up. They separate as Wood lands a left hand and a body kick. Delgado lands another groin kick and timeout is called again. Wood takes some moments to recover and they get back going. Wood lands a jab. Wood lands a combo and then lands a right hand. Wood with a quick combo. Wood lands a calf kick. 10-9 Wood, 19-19.
They trade to start the third and Delgado lands a high kick. Wood with a leg kick. Delgado lands a right hand. Wood with a leg kick as Delgado lands a combination. They trade punches inside the pocket. Wood with a right hand and Delgado lands a kick as Wood lands a left hand. Wood with a left hook. Delgado lands a high kick and Wood lands a right hand and a left hook. Wood lands some punches. Delgado shoots for a takedown but Wood sprawls. Delgado tries a spinning attack but Wood grabs the back and nearly drags it down, but Delgado escapes and ends up in control. Delgado lands an elbow as they stand and then lands an uppercut. They trade jabs. Wood lands a calf kick. Wood lands a right hand. Delgado lands a knee but Wood is able to score a takedown. Wood lands an elbow from top. Close fight. 10-9 Delgado, 29-28 Delgado.
Fight Result- Nathaniel Wood def. Jose Delgado by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
> Heavyweights- #15 Valter Walker (14-1, 3-1 UFC) vs. Louie Sutherland (10-3, 0-0 UFC)
Walker lands a leg kick. Sutherland lands a leg kick of his own. They trade leg kicks. Sutherland lands a big right hand but Walker is able to score a takedown. Walker lands and then attacks the leg and locks in a heel hook and Sutherland taps! Walker with yet another finish with a heel hook.
Fight Result- Valter Walker def. Louie Sutherland by submission (heel hook) at 1:24 of Round 1
> Lightweights- Ludovit Klein (23-5-1, 7-3-1 UFC) vs. Mateusz Rebecki (20-3, 4-2 UFC)
They trade and Klein hurts Rebecki with a left hand. Klein lands a combination and Rebecki lands a counter left hand. Klein works the jab. Rebecki shoots in and Klein lands a knee, though Rebecki is still able to get the body lock. Rebecki has the leg but Klein is able to escape and they break to the center. Rebecki lands a front kick and Klein lands a left hand. Klein lands to the body as Rebecki rushed in. Klein lands a combination and then ends it with a head kick that Rebecki eats. Klein with a heavy leg kick. They trade left hands. Klein with a jab. 10-9 Klein.
They trade and Klein lands a combination. Rebecki lands a left hand. They trade big shots inside the pocket and Klein hurts Rebecki with a left hand. Rebecki quickly recovers and they both land again. Rebecki shoots for a takedown but Klein defends as Rebecki pushes it against the fence. Rebecki gets the takedown but Klein is able to get up quickly and Klein lands on the break. Klein lands a combination. Rebecki with a right hook. Rebecki is busted open badly. Klein hurts Rebecki with a right hook as Rebecki stumbles away but recovers. Klein with a nice combination ending with a head kick. They continue to trade. Klein lands a combination. 10-9 Klein, 20-18 Klein.
> Middleweights- Ikram Aliskerov (16-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. Jun Yong Park (19-6, 9-3 UFC)
> Lightweights- Nasrat Haqparast (18-5, 10-4 UFC) vs. Quillan Salkilld (9-1, 2-0 UFC)
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> Light Heavyweights- #7 Aleksandar Rakic (14-5, 6-4 UFC) vs. #10 Azamat Murzakanov (15-0, 5-0 UFC)
> Heavyweights- #2 Alexander Volkov (38-11, 12-5 UFC) vs. #5 Jailton Almeida (22-3, 8-1 UFC)
> Bantamweights- #2 Umar Nurmagomedov (18-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. #9 Mario Bautista (16-2, 10-2 UFC)
> UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship- #1 Virna Jandiroba (22-3, 8-3 UFC) vs. #5 Mackenzie Dern (15-5, 10-5 UFC)
> UFC Heavyweight Championship- C Tom Aspinall (15-3, 8-1 UFC) vs. #1 Ciryl Gane (13-2, 10-2 UFC)
MMA writer & live coverage specialist, contributor to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter