Even before entering the Octagon at UFC 321, Mackenzie Dern had to fight off more than just her opponent. Why? Because her title bout against Virna Jandiroba was dubbed “the most insignificant fight in recent memory” by UFC analyst Din Thomas, a remark that quickly went viral on social media and cast an unnecessary shadow over her long-awaited championship opportunity.

For a fighter making history as only the second ADCC and Jiu-Jitsu World Cup gold medalist to challenge for a UFC belt, the timing couldn’t have been worse. What should have been the most important night of her career began under a shadow of doubt. But when the dust settled and Dern emerged victorious, she had her answer, and she delivered it with calm conviction.

Mackenzie Dern breaks her silence on Din Thomas’ brutal verdict

During a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Mackenzie Dern specifically addressed Thomas’s comments by using the Jon Jones and Tom Aspinall saga as an example. “Jon Jones gave up his belt, and Tom Aspinall became champion—what do we in the division have to do with that?” she questioned, emphasizing the unfair double standard. To her, a vacated belt does not render the fight useless; rather, it allows deserving challengers to rise.

“If there’s a vacated belt, who else would fight for it? I don’t understand how any championship fight can be insignificant.” Her tone was more curious than bitter, like the sound of someone who’s been underestimated before but is no longer bothered by it. The champion also reminded everyone about how scary her UFC 321 opponent was, comparing her to none other than the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Virna was on a five-fight win streak, submitting and taking down everyone,” Dern recalled. “She’s like a strawweight mini Khabib kind of girl.” It wasn’t a stretch; Virna Jandiroba’s relentless grappling and speed had dominated practically every opponent she faced. So, for Mackenzie Dern, the idea that such a battle was unworthy of the title spotlight simply did not make sense.

What puzzled her the most was who said it. “As a commentator, and I think he even helps with training and coaches and stuff—I didn’t understand it,” Dern admitted. Coming from someone who is heavily active in MMA, the dismissal felt out of place. Still, she did not respond with bitterness; her performance in Abu Dhabi spoke louder than any words could.

Because, for Mackenzie Dern, the UFC 321 main event was proof. Proof that even when doubt persists before the first punch, champions respond in the cage. However, there were still a few who were left unconvinced, as one UFC legend called out the UFC’s Abu Dhabi event as “the worst card in UFC history” while also taking aim at the poor judging at 321.

UFC legend disagrees with the judges who gave Mackenzie Dern and several others a win at UFC 321

Mackenzie Dern’s win may have silenced one critic, but the argument surrounding UFC 321 was far from over. Former two-division champion Henry Cejudo called it “the worst card in UFC history.” Beyond the eye-poke ending in the main event, ‘Triple C’ criticized the judging, arguing that numerous judgments were just wrong.

On his Pound 4 Pound podcast, Cejudo stated that he believes the judges made several incorrect calls. “I thought it was 30-27 for Almeida. This was a shutout,” he said of the heavyweight fight between Jailton Almeida and Alexander Volkov, adding that Dern’s victory did not convince him either. He went a step further, recommending that the UFC use AI-assisted judging to eliminate bias.

“We do need AI judging, bro. AI judging would really make the biggest difference,” he claimed, urging smaller promotions to try it first. But his co-host, Kamaru Usman, wasn’t convinced. The former welterweight champion claimed that machines cannot understand the human side of fighting.

“I don’t think a computer can determine how hurt someone is in a fight,” Usman said. And his response perfectly highlighted the growing divide among fighters and fans: whether judging needs some reform, or if controversy is simply part of the sport’s DNA. What do you think? Do you agree with what the critics have to say about Mackenzie Dern? Let us know in the comments.