Virna
Jandiroba is willing to wait for a title shot.
Jandiroba (23-4) dominated Tabatha
Ricci on the ground for three rounds to earn a unanimous
decision win at
UFC Fight Night 272 on Saturday. “Carcara” subsequently called
for a chance to avenge her title loss against Mackenzie
Dern (16-5).
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However, Jandiroba subsequently admitted that former champion
Weili
Zhang deserves an immediate shot at the title if she returns to
strawweight. Jandiroba will be willing to wait for the winner of a
potential clash between Zhang and Dern. While Jandiroba wants to
avenge her loss against Dern, she also wants to test Zhang before
she retires. Jandiroba also predicts that Zhang will dethrone Dern
if they fight.
Understanding the Pecking Order
“It has to be if Weili comes back,” Jandiroba said at the post-fight press conference . “… I know I
said some stuff up there, but if Weili is back, then it’s her
rightful spot to fight for the title… I think the technical side of
things – I believe Weili has the upper hand. She should be able to
beat Mackenzie. I still want to fight Mackenzie one more time, but
I have to fight Weili before I retire.”
Zhang (26-4) defended the strawweight title thrice in her second
title run before vacating the belt to move up. Zhang unsuccessfully
challenged Valentina
Shevchenko for the flyweight title at UFC 322
this past November. “Magnum” will like return to strawweight now
instead of fighting down the rankings at flyweight. Meanwhile,
Jandiroba’s win over Ricci saw her rebound from a failed bid for
the vacant strawweight title against Dern last year.