On paper, UFC 321 wasn’t terribly exceptional by any stretch of the creativeness. With Tom Aspinall being a large betting favourite to defend his heavyweight title towards Ciryl Gane and a strawweight title struggle that felt like a comfort prize after Zhang Weili vacated the title to maneuver up a division and problem for the ladies’s flyweight championship, the highest of the cardboard was one of many weaker pay-per-views of 2025.
Sadly, the struggle card performed out worse than it appeared on paper.
An unprecedented no-contest in the primary occasion left struggle followers feeling empty. Outdoors of a must-see head kick knockout by Quillan Salkilld, an absurd fourth consecutive heel hook submission end from heavyweight Valter Walker and Azamat Murzakanov’s of Alexander Volkov, it was a tough evening for the UFC with a group of subpar fights, two of which earned failing scores.
After every pay-per-view, we break down and assess the standard of every struggle and the struggle card itself primarily based on ability displayed, competitiveness and what’s at stake.
Light-weight: Nasrat Haqparast vs. Quillan Salkilld
End result: Salkilld defeats Haqparast by first-round knockout
Grade: A
This was a downright horrifying conclusion to a light-weight tilt between two evenly matched fighters. A proper head kick from Salkilld within the opening spherical landed flush and crumbled Haqparast, who collapsed face-first on the canvas and stayed there for a number of minutes. It was a type of knockouts that you simply leap out of your seat for and instantly really feel unhealthy for having fun with.
Gentle heavyweight: Aleksandar Rakic vs. Azamat Murzakanov
End result: Murzakanov defeats Rakic by first-round TKO
Grade: B+
For those who had been to guage this struggle by physique sorts, Rakic’s shredded construct would have simply earned the victory. As a substitute, the strong Murzakanov torched Rakic with a easy jab. The punch completely wrecked the charging Rakic, whose punch resistance has clearly deteriorated through the years. Murzakanov is well probably the most underestimated title contender creeping up the sunshine heavyweight ladder.
Heavyweight: Valter Walker vs. Louie Sutherland
End result: Walker defeats Sutherland by submission
Grade: B
4 straight heel hook finishes from Walker is an absurd statistic, particularly for a heavyweight. He made brief work of Sutherland by impressively trapping the leg following a takedown. Sutherland was a fish out of water and tapped out in a rush. Heavyweights aren’t supposed to complete fights like this. Walker was spectacular, and the heavyweight division should watch out for the Brazilian. Oh, and keep for the postfight interview, wherein Walker hilariously dismissed the translator and known as for a struggle with Hamdy Abdelwahab.
Light-weight: Ludovit Klein vs. Mateusz Rebecki
End result: Klein defeats Rebecki by majority choice
Grade: B
Rebecki was busted up from quite a few crisp punches he absorbed from Klein within the first 10 minutes of the struggle. Rebecki’s refusal to desert his technique of staying in Klein’s face nearly paid off, as he practically managed a come-from-behind win. After being completely outstruck within the first two rounds, Rebecki secured a takedown in Spherical 3 and went to work with a blistering rally of ground-and-pound. Klein suffered an ankle damage when he was taken down, however managed to climate the storm and survive the spherical to earn the choice. This was an entertaining and bloody battle that had a dramatic pendulum swing within the remaining spherical. It is value watching Klein’s boxing towards Rebecki’s tenacity.
Males’s bantamweight: Umar Nurmagomedov vs. Mario Bautista
End result: Nurmagomedov defeats Bautista by unanimous choice
Grade: C+
This was a very good struggle, however not fairly a barnburner that you must exit of your strategy to watch. Bautista refused to again down, irrespective of how robust issues acquired for him contained in the Octagon. Nurmagomedov additionally demonstrated resiliency after surviving an early toe maintain submission that was cranked relentlessly by Bautista. In the end, Nurmagomedov’s grappling was the distinction maker and the win places him again in title rivalry. However this struggle will not find yourself on his profession spotlight reel.
Strawweight championship: Mackenzie Dern vs. Virna Jandiroba
End result: Dern defeats Jandiroba by unanimous choice
Grade: C+
Dern’s evolution in hanging continued along with her title-winning efficiency towards Jandiroba. Whereas nonetheless flawed, Dern has improved sufficient to be taken significantly as a well-rounded fighter. Nonetheless, the struggle lacked any notable moments, regardless that each girls placed on a gritty efficiency that left each of their faces swollen. With out the title on the road, this might have been a barely above-average struggle. The stakes made it extra fascinating, nevertheless it will not be remembered six months from now.
Featherweight: Nathaniel Wooden vs. Jose Miguel Delgado
End result: Wooden defeats Delgado by unanimous choice
Grade: C+
Delgado was a whirlwind of hanging dominance early, and it appeared it could be a brief, profitable evening after a head kick to spinning backfist mixture sank Wooden to the canvas. Nevertheless, Wooden was resilient as he steadied the ship and slowly clawed his approach again into the struggle. The motion slowed after the opening spherical and Wooden stayed aggressive. After three rounds, it regarded like Delgado was going to earn the choice, however the judges favored Wooden’s measured efficiency (29-28 thrice). Delgado might have misplaced, however he showcased a ton of promise, whereas Wooden has confirmed to be a tricky out for everybody.
Strawweight: Jaqueline Amorim vs. Mizuki
End result: Mizuki defeats Amorim by unanimous choice
Grade: C-
This was your typical striker vs. grappler fashion conflict that wasn’t terribly thrilling. There have been lengthy stretches early throughout which Amorim would get Mizuki to the canvas and chain submission makes an attempt collectively. However Mizuki would keep away from getting submerged in her opponent’s jiu-jitsu and would land the extra significant strikes, whereas staying out of bother. A late cost from Mizuki on a fading Amorim within the third spherical was most likely probably the most stirring second of the struggle, nevertheless it did not make this a must-see struggle by any means.
Males’s flyweight: Azat Maksum vs. Mitch Raposo
End result: Raposo defeats Maksum by unanimous choice
Grade: D+
When probably the most fascinating second of the struggle is a fence seize, you’ll be able to most likely skip it. Do not blame Raposo as a result of he got here to struggle because the betting underdog (+375 per ESPN BET). Maksum missed weight by three kilos on Friday and appeared not sure of himself, regardless that he seemed to be the extra proficient fighter of the 2. However Raposo merely outworked Maksum and cemented the win when Maksum was deducted some extent after utilizing a blatant fence seize to flee a one-arm guillotine try. It was a very good win for Raposo, however not an engagement value writing residence about.
Middleweight: Ikram Aliskerov vs. JunYong Park
End result: Aliskerov defeats Park by unanimous choice
Grade: D
Do you want dominant grappling exhibitions? For those who do not, this is not your struggle. Aliskerov routinely grounded a helpless Park at will and saved him down with out essentially coming near securing a end. It wasn’t thrilling by any stretch of the creativeness, nevertheless it was efficient sufficient to get Aliskerov a second consecutive win.
Heavyweight: Hamdy Abdelwahab vs. Chris Barnett
End result: Abdelwahab defeats Barnett by unanimous choice
Grade: F+
Every part was going swimmingly for Abdelwahab, who regarded as if he would safe a dominant first-round end over Barnett.
Then the wheels got here off the struggle.
Referee Marc Goddard took some extent away from Abdelwahab in Spherical 1 for a blatant elbow to the again of Barnett’s head. From there, it was an absolute heavyweight catastrophe. Barnett had no solutions for Abdelwahab, however Abdelwahab could not determine the right way to end a clearly damaged fighter. It dissolved right into a sloppy mess that noticed Barnett’s shorts slide off to disclose his bottom in Spherical 2.
If you’re on the lookout for a struggle that is so unhealthy that you could find some leisure in it, then Abdelwahab vs. Barnett is for you.
Heavyweight: Alexander Volkov vs. Jailton Almeida
End result: Volkov defeats Almeida by cut up choice
Grade: F-
This was depressing to look at. Almeida took Volkov down seven instances and maintained practically 11 of the 15-minute struggle of management time, however did completely nothing with it. Volkov managed to sneak in sufficient strikes within the 4 minutes he wasn’t on his again to squeeze out a call victory. Volkov did his finest towards an opponent who had just one recreation plan. This was actually, actually unhealthy.
Heavyweight championship: Tom Aspinall vs. Ciryl Gane
End result: Aspinall-Gane ends in a no-contest
Grade: Incomplete
Simply once you thought Gane was going to current sufficient of a problem to Aspinall to get out of the primary spherical, the struggle ended resulting from an unintended eye poke. Gane bloodied Aspinall’s nostril within the opening minute of the struggle, which drew a smile from the champion who appeared excited to have a real problem within the Octagon. Aspinall and Gane had been engaged in an entertaining chess match earlier than the challenger by the way dug his fingers into each of the champion’s eyes. And not using a definitive end result, this earned the uncommon grade of incomplete.
UFC 321 grade: D-
Salkilld’s scintillating head kick knockout was simply sufficient to avoid wasting this card from fully flunking out. With a pair of Fs, an incomplete predominant occasion, a comparatively common strawweight title bout and several other unremarkable fights, UFC 321 will find yourself being remembered because the UFC’s worst PPV of 2025.