UFC321 was the company’s 22nd visit to Abu Dhabi and the Etihad Arena, with the main and co-main events as title fights.

There were 13 fights on the card. Eight on the preliminary card and five on the main card. 

There were only three stoppages, one was a submission and two KOs, with nine going the distance, including one split decision with one no contest. 

TOP PERFORMER: QUILLAN SALKILLD 

The man from Australia lit up the preliminary card with a stunning head-kick knockout to send the crowd into raptures.

It took him just over two minutes of the first round to record his 10th straight win, third straight in the UFC and probably his best win ever. 

His perfectly executed head kick, which sent his opponent crashing to the canvas and out cold, earned him a second performance of the night bonus from his three UFC fights and a contender for knockout of the year. 

TOP PERFORMER 2: VALTER WALKER 

The first fighter in UFC history to record four heel hook submission wins in a row is surprisingly a heavyweight.

Walker, the younger brother of Johnny, destroyed his opponent after just 90 seconds with a stunning heel hook.

Although he won his last three fights by the same move, his opponent was powerless to stop his split-second movement to claim the heel, and even tried to roll to get out of it, but it just made it worse as Walker tightened the hook, forcing his opponent to tap. 

TOP PERFORMER 3: MACKENZIE DERN

In a rematch from their December 2020 bout, which Dern won via points, Dern once again showed she was too good, too skilled and too determined for Jandiroba to claim the UFC strawweight title.

It was a cagey affair, but Dern showed her improved striking, determined to keep the fight on the feet, knowing she still had exceptional grappling if the fight were to go to the ground. 

Jandiroba tried everything she could to get Dern off her stride, but Dern was one step ahead in every aspect to claim a deserved unanimous points victory. 

Honourable Mention 

Azamat Muzakanov was the other fighter on the card to record a knockout victory, and it was a significant one to stay undefeated and move to a six straight win in the UFC, with only one of those going the distance. He showed his devastating power by stopping Rakic with a slick short right hand, which crumpled Rakic to the canvas in the first round.