However, as fans gear up for the fireworks inside the Octagon, there’s another major storyline outside of it: the fighter payouts. From championship-level purses to performance bonuses, every fighter will be aiming not only for victory but also for a lucrative payday. Here’s a breakdown of how much each competitor is expected to earn from this highly anticipated event in Abu Dhabi. In the co-main event, Brazil’s Virna Jandiroba faces Mackenzie Dern in a rematch for the vacant strawweight championship. The main card also features top contenders Umar Nurmagomedov vs Mario Bautista, Alexander Volkov vs Jailton Almeida, and Aleksandar Rakic vs Azamat Murzakanov. The prelims are loaded with international talent, including Nasrat Haqparast, Ikram Aliskerov, and Nathaniel Wood.

The undisputed UFC heavyweight title takes center stage as champion Tom Aspinall defends his crown against top contender Ciryl Gane in a blockbuster main event. Aspinall returns to action for the first time since UFC 304, where he avenged his previous loss to Curtis Blaydes with a stunning first-round knockout. Promoted to undisputed champion earlier this year, the British powerhouse enters with an 8-1 UFC record and a 15-3 overall mark, looking to solidify his reign atop the division. Standing across from him is former interim champion Ciryl Gane, who boasts a 13-2 record and back-to-back wins over Alexander Volkov and Serghei Spivac.

Despite two prior failed bids for undisputed gold, the Frenchman’s fluid movement and precision striking make him one of the most dangerous heavyweights alive. With both men representing the new breed of fast, technical big men, UFC 321 promises an elite clash to determine the division’s true king. Brazilian contenders Virna Jandiroba and Mackenzie Dern meet once again in Abu Dhabi, this time with the vacant UFC strawweight championship up for grabs. Riding a five-fight winning streak, Jandiroba has emerged as one of the division’s most consistent forces, earning impressive victories over Angela Hill, Marina Rodriguez, and Loopy Godinez. Her most recent performance, a dominant unanimous decision win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC 314, cemented her position as a top contender.

Standing in her way is the ever-dangerous Mackenzie Dern, a multiple-time BJJ world champion known for her slick submissions and relentless spirit. Dern enters on a two-fight win streak, including a statement submission victory over Amanda Ribas earlier this year. The two previously fought at UFC 256, where Dern earned a close decision win. Now, both meet again at very different points in their careers, with championship gold as the ultimate prize. If it’s Aleksandar Rakic who gets the win, it will be because he’s had a much stronger strength of schedule than Murzakanov. No, Rakic hasn’t won a fight since 2021, with much of his time lost to injury. But he’s also been in there with the best of the best, suffering consecutive losses to Magomed Ankalaev, Jiri Prochazka, and Jan Blachowicz (who he suffered a knee injury against). Those are three UFC light heavyweight champions, folks. Solid names, but they definitely don’t compare to who Rakic has had to deal with. So this is either going to be the younger and yet more battle tested Rakic showing Murzakanov there are levels to this game and picking him apart before possibly finishing late, or Murzakanov just running through the slumping Rakic. I’ve bought in to the Murzakanov hype, so I’m sticking to that. Let’s Take look on complete lineup and event detail for UFC 321 Aspinall vs Gane PPV Pay Per View October 25, 2025.