UFC November 16, 2025

UFC 321 – The Total Recap – 25 October 2025

UFC 321: A Night of Reflection

UFC 321 – The Total Recap lit up Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Arena on 25 October 2025 with raw excitement and no shortage of controversy. The headline bout between heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall and French challenger Ciryl Gane was ruled a no contest after an accidental double eye poke — a frustrating conclusion that dulled the shine of an otherwise electrifying night.

Despite the anticlimactic main event, the card delivered plenty of drama: dominant performances across divisions, spectacular knockouts, and highlight-reel finishes. In the co-main, Mackenzie Dern captured the vacant strawweight title in a gruelling battle against Virna Jandiroba. For all the frustration surrounding the heavyweight clash, fans departed with a wealth of unforgettable moments from an otherwise thrilling card. UFC 321 – The Total Recap is one for the ages. 

Championship Headliner Highlights

Tom Aspinall vs Ciryl Gane

The heavyweight title fight began with promise, both men demonstrating their abilities from the outset. Gane looked sharp from the opening bell, his crisp jab repeatedly finding its mark and leaving Aspinall with a bloodied nose.

Aspinall had his moments in the exchanges, but Gane’s technical accuracy was beginning to tell as he settled into a rhythm. Then came the incident: at 4:35 of the first round, an accidental eye poke left Aspinall unable to see. The referee halted the contest, medical officials confirmed the severity of the injury, and Aspinall was taken straight to hospital in Abu Dhabi.

Up to that point, Gane had edged the strike count, but both fighters were engaging in skilful exchanges that hinted at a compelling contest. The no contest ruling has already sparked debate about rematches and the wider title picture.

Impact on the Heavyweight Division

The result leaves the division clouded in uncertainty. Aspinall retains his belt, but without a definitive victory over Gane. Having already endured a long layoff before this fight, the inconclusive ending is especially unsatisfying for the British champion.

The outcome does little to clarify his standing against Jon Jones or the broader heavyweight hierarchy. A swift turnaround for both fighters would be the ideal scenario — provided Aspinall makes a full recovery.

Strawweight Title: Moment of Truth

Mackenzie Dern vs Virna Jandiroba

Brazilian-American contender Mackenzie Dern delivered a commanding performance to claim the vacant strawweight championship and her first UFC title. A unanimous decision sealed her comprehensive victory over Virna Jandiroba.

Dern’s Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu pedigree was on full display, as she repeatedly took the fight to the mat and controlled the tempo with well-timed takedowns and submission attempts. Jandiroba’s takedown defence faltered, and although she found some success with striking combinations early, she struggled to impose her game plan.

Dern’s improved wrestling and defensive striking allowed her to dictate exchanges, seamlessly switching between grappling, precision striking, and submission threats. Jandiroba spent much of the contest fending off submissions rather than advancing her own position.

The challenger showed grit and determination, surviving multiple deep submission attempts — including a crowd-thrilling rear-naked choke in Round 2 — and continuing to probe for openings. Yet Dern consistently steered the fight back into her orbit, maintaining relentless pressure and superior cardio throughout the championship rounds.

By Round 4, Dern was firmly in control, mixing ground-and-pound with positional dominance. All three scorecards reflected her superiority across five rounds. As the final horn sounded, Dern celebrated with raw emotion, finally fulfilling her long-held dream of becoming UFC champion.

Implications for the Strawweight Division

Dern will likely defend her title within the next six months. Potential challengers already circling include Zhang Weili, Rose Namajunas, and Amanda Lemos — each bringing a distinct stylistic threat to the new champion.

Zhang Weili – The former champion is renowned for her explosive striking, relentless pace, and well-rounded skill set. Her ability to blend powerful combinations with takedown defence makes her one of the most dangerous opponents in the division.

Rose Namajunas – A two-time strawweight champion, Namajunas is celebrated for her fluid footwork, sharp boxing, and cerebral approach to fights. She thrives on timing and precision, often using movement to frustrate and outthink opponents.

Amanda Lemos – A top contender with knockout power, Lemos is known for her explosive striking and finishing ability. Her aggression and athleticism pose a serious threat, particularly in the early rounds.

Each challenger represents a unique puzzle for Dern: Weili’s pace and power, Namajunas’ tactical finesse, and Lemos’ raw explosiveness. The strawweight division is poised for compelling matchups as Dern begins her reign.

UFC 321: Bantamweight and Light Heavyweight Standouts

Umar Nurmagomedov produced a maestro’s performance in his bantamweight bout against Mario Bautista, while Azamat Murzakanov cruised to light heavyweight victory with a spectacular knockout finish.

Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista

This bantamweight clash proved one of the evening’s most entertaining contests, as Dagestan’s Nurmagomedov delivered a technically brilliant unanimous decision victory over Bautista, with all three judges scoring it 30–27 in his favour.

Aside from Bautista’s early attempt at a toehold submission, Nurmagomedov quickly took command, controlling the opening exchanges with his ironclad grappling and well-rounded skill set.

It wasn’t entirely one-way traffic, however. Bautista dropped Nurmagomedov with a sharply timed knee strike in the second round, reminding everyone of his striking threat. Yet Nurmagomedov recovered swiftly, wrestled back momentum, and reestablished control.

In the final round Bautista pressed forward, but much of his offence was stifled as he spent time defending and working free from difficult positions engineered by Nurmagomedov’s relentless grappling.

This bout marked Nurmagomedov’s finest comeback performance, a statement win that helped erase memories of his earlier title challenge defeat to Merab Dvalishvili.

Azamat Murzakanov vs Aleksandar Rakic

Undefeated prospect Murzakanov extended his perfect record with a first round knockout of Rakic. An exquisitely timed right hand ended the contest at 3:11 of the opening round, securing his sixth consecutive UFC victory and improving his professional record to 16–0.

After finding his range against the taller Serbian early, Murzakanov connected with a short righthand counter that caught Rakic completely off-guard — a punch he never saw coming and from which he could not recover.

Now riding a streak of five finishes in six UFC appearances, Murzakanov’s call for a top-tier light heavyweight matchup appears well justified. At 36, his confidence is sky-high, and his performances suggest he is ready to test himself against the division’s elite.

Implications for the Heavyweight Division

While none of these bouts carried title ramifications, each result nudged the division’s landscape in subtle ways.

Alexander Volkov – His split decision win over Almeida reinforces his place among the top contenders. Though contentious, the victory keeps him in the conversation for a future eliminator bout.

Valter Walker – With another submission win, Walker continues to build momentum. His grappling heavy style could trouble strikers in the mid-tier rankings, making him a dangerous dark horse.

Hamdy Abdelwahab – The Egyptian’s disciplined unanimous decision adds credibility to his rise. He’s proving he can neutralise explosive opponents, suggesting readiness for tougher tests against ranked competition.

Together, these performances highlight the depth of the heavyweight division, where seasoned veterans and emerging prospects alike are jostling for position in the title mix.

UFC 321: Abu Dhabi’s Preliminary Card – First Focus

The Abu Dhabi prelims served up a dynamic meld: a volcanic finish, a dominant shutout, and a razor-thin majority decision. Quillan Salkilld lit up the Etihad Arena with a wrecking-ball head kick knockout, Ikram Aliskerov cruised to a one-sided verdict, and Ludovit Klein edged a nip-and-tuck battle on the judges’ scorecards.

Quillan Salkilld vs Nasrat Haqparast.

The standout moment of the prelims came courtesy of Australian prospect Quillan Salkilld, who detonated a savage head kick to flatten Nasrat Haqparast in their lightweight clash. The brutal finish arrived just 2 minutes 30 seconds into the opening round, leaving the Afghan fighter unconscious on the canvas.

Salkilld had already showcased his sharp timing and striking craft, calmly gauging distance before unleashing the high kick that connected flush with Haqparast’s temple. It was a clinical strike — and one that offered no chance of recovery.

Ikram Aliskerov vs Jun Yong Park

Aliskerov dominated from bell to bell in this middleweight contest, with Park unable to find rhythm across three rounds. The Russian’s wrestling dictated the terms, repeatedly dragging Park to the mat and smothering him with superior grappling and positional control.

Neutralising Park’s striking threats entirely, Aliskerov forced the judges’ hands with a clean sweep: 30–27 across all three scorecards.

Ludovit Klein vs Mateusz Rebecki

Klein eked out victory in a tightly contested lightweight bout, edging Mateusz Rebecki by the narrowest of margins. Both men traded in entertaining back-and-forth exchanges, but Klein’s precision striking proved decisive, particularly in the final round where he landed the cleaner shots under pressure.

The judges returned a majority decision: 29–28, 28–27, and 28–28 — enough to hand Klein the win.

UFC 321: More Memorable Prelims at the Etihad Arena

Elsewhere on the card, Nathaniel Wood displayed tactical mastery, Mitch Raposo delivered a statement finish, and Mizuki Inoue underlined her grappling superiority.

Nathaniel Wood vs Jose Miguel Delgado

Veteran featherweight Nathaniel Wood put on a composed display of technical striking and footwork against Delgado. His jab dictated the pace early, while his agility and defensive positioning kept him clear of danger.

Delgado pressed forward aggressively in the second round but struggled to close the distance. In the final round, Wood stayed disciplined, picking his shots and avoiding reckless exchanges. The judges rewarded his methodical approach with a unanimous decision.

Mitch Raposo vs Azat Maksum

Raposo produced one of the night’s most emphatic finishes in his flyweight bout with Azat Maksum. The Canadian favourite imposed his ground game from the outset, defending takedowns and transitioning smoothly to dominant positions.

The finish came in round two, as Raposo locked in a rear-naked choke that forced Maksum to tap. The Abu Dhabi crowd roared its approval, and Raposo extended his winning streak while cementing his reputation as a rising contender.

Mizuki Inoue vs Jaqueline Amorim

Mizuki delivered a grappling clinic against Amorim in their strawweight encounter. The Japanese fighter repeatedly secured takedowns, maintained positional dominance, and landed effective strikes from top control.

Amorim fought valiantly to escape, even wriggling free from a late submission attempt, but Mizuki’s wrestling kept the fight grounded. The judges’ scorecards reflected her superiority, underscoring the value of a complete skillset in modern MMA.

Conclusion – UFC 321: Another Night of MMA Magic in Abu Dhabi

The UFC once again cast its spell at the Etihad Arena, with prelims and main card bouts alike crackling with drama, athleticism, and high-stakes combat. Fans worldwide tuned in via pay-per-view, ESPN+, BT Sport, and regional broadcasters, ensuring the spectacle reached every corner of the sport’s global audience.

ES Sport looks forward to welcoming fans back to Yas Island in 2026, with the Etihad Arena remaining a cornerstone of the UFC’s international calendar. While the confirmed Abu Dhabi Schedule is yet to be released, staying connected with ES Sport ensures you’ll be the first to know when the Octagon returns.