Chinese import Tiequan Zhang encouraged by pressure of representing a nation

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Any time a fighter enters the cage of the WEC or UFC
for the first time, nerves are certain to factor into the combatant’s
performance.

Fighting on the biggest stage in the world, no one wants to let himself down, much less his fan…

BROOMFIELD, Colo. – Any time a fighter enters the cage of the WEC or UFC
for the first time, nerves are certain to factor into the combatant’s
performance.

Fighting on the biggest stage in the world, no one wants to let himself down, much less his fans, coaches or training partners.

But lightweight Tiequan Zhang had a few more people
on his mind when he stepped in the cage for his WEC debut at Thursday’s
WEC 51 event – like the 1.3 billion citizens of his native China.