A top-10 matchup between contenders Marina Rodriguez and Virna Jandiroba has been announced for UFC 288 on May 6th at a currently undisclosed location, per MMA Amelotto.
This fight takes place in the Women's Strawweight (115 lbs) division.
Marina Rodriguez is ranked #4 at Women's Strawweight and holds a professional record of 16-2-2 (6-2-2 UFC). She holds notable victories over Yan Xiaonan, Mackenzie Dern, and Amanda Ribas.
Virna Jandiroba is ranked #10 at Women's Strawweight and has a professional record of 18-3 (4-3 UFC), claiming notable wins over Angela Hill, Mallory Martin, and Felice Herrig.
Official odds have yet to be released.
Marina Rodriguez suffered a setback at the end of 2022, losing to up-and-coming prospect Amanda Lemos in their main event. The fight was competitive, but she lost via third-round TKO after Lemos barraged her with strikes. Before the loss, Rodriguez rode a four-fight winning streak, including two main event decision victories against Michelle Waterson and Mackenzie Dern. She'll be looking to reignite her winning streak in this matchup.
Virna Jandiroba is coming off a dominant decision victory over divisional veteran Angela Hill. She's been slowly rising through the rankings since her debut in 2019, losing to Carla Esparza via unanimous decision. Since then, she's gone 4-2, with her best performance coming against Felice Herrig at UFC 252, where she picked up a first-round armbar and a performance bonus. Jandiroba will be looking to utilize her impressive grappling and growing striking arsenal to secure the biggest win of her career in this bout.
This is an intriguing fight at Women's Strawweight, with the winner likely earning a top-five opponent next. So who do you have taking this matchup? As a member of the Verdict Community, let us know your prediction in the comments below.