MMA Preview – Mackenzie Dern vs Virna Jandiroba at UFC 256
MACKENZIE DERN VS VIRNA JANDIROBA FACTS
When is UFC 256? Sunday 13th December, 2020 - 01:00 start (UK)
Where is UFC 256? UFC APEX, Las Vegas, Nevada (US)
Where can I get tickets for UFC 256? No tickets are available as this event will take place without spectators
What channel is UFC 256 on? BT Sport 1
Where can I stream UFC 256? BT Sport subscribers can stream the fight online via the BT Sport website
For viewers in the United States, the event will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
MACKENZIE DERN VS VIRNA JANDIROBA LOWDOWN
The jiu-jitsu phenom Mackenzie Dern (9-1) is back snatching limbs after suffering the first loss of her career. She walked through her first seven opponents including two UFC fights but ran into fellow prospect Amanda Ribas getting a rich taste of humble pie. She expected to take Ribas down and make her another victim but Ribas was a class above on the feet and even took Dern down twice herself controlling the submission wizard on the ground. However, Dern bounced back with two ‘performance of the night’ bonuses submitting Hannah Cifers and Randa Markos.
The matchmakers have paired her up with Virna Jandiroba (16-1) who is arguably the most dangerous jiu-jitsu practitioner in the division outside Dern. She stormed her way to 14-0 with 11 submissions to earn a debut against Carla Esparza but was not quite ready for the former strawweight champion losing a decision. However, like Dern, she has bounced back from her first loss with two more submissions who were against Mallory Martin and Felice Herrig.
MACKENZIE DERN VS VIRNA JANDIROBA PREDICTION
Grappling lovers will hope this fight takes place solely on the ground but MMA does not work that way. Any grappling exchanges will be a fascinating contest, but the difference could end up being on the feet where they are also evenly matched.
Dern has had a full camp and has been working with Jason Parillo who is one of the best striking coaches in the game and his nous could be the deciding factor. We should see some striking and some grappling attempts with their jiu-jitsu cancelling each other out forcing a decision but we expect Dern to enter the APEX a more well-rounded fighter.
Prediction: Dern via Decision
