Virna Jandiroba lays out path back to UFC strawweight title shot
Despite coming up short in her title fight against Mackenzie Dern, Virna Jandiroba doesn't see herself far from challenging for the belt once again.
LAS VEGAS – Virna Jandiroba's dreams of one day becoming a UFC champion did not die in her title loss last October. Jandiroba (22-4 MMA, 8-4 UFC) is still gunning for the UFC strawweight title following her competitive decision loss to Mackenzie Dern for the vacant title at UFC 321. The 37-year-old Brazilian starts her campaign back to the belt this Saturday, as she makes her return against Tabatha Ricci in the co-main event of UFC Fight Night 272 ( Paramount+ ) at the Meta APEX.
Jandiroba took a lot from her defeat to Dern, and is motivated to get back to the top. "I took 15 days to rest, and then I was immediately back to training," Jandiroba told reporters in Portuguese at Wednesday's media day. "I'm very good at restarting, to tell you the truth.
It's a restart. I feel good. I don't feel defeated by the defeat, and I know I came out much bigger than what I came into the fight, so I take that from the fight.
I take that experience of fighting for the belt with a lot of focus and determination. " Jandiroba believes a solid win over Ricci (12-3 MMA, 7-3 UFC), and maybe one or two more, should get her back in another title fight. "I'm ready to fight for the belt whenever, but that doesn't depend on me," Jandiroba said.