Zhang Weili reclaimed UFC gold last night (Sat., Nov. 12, 2022) at UFC 281 live on ESPN+ PPV from inside Madison Square Garden in New York City, when “Magnum” stopped UFC women’s strawweight champion Carla Esparza with an decisive second-round submission (rear-naked choke).
Zhang was the more active fighter in the early going, but Esparza’s wrestling and persistent scrambling created some danger for “Magnum.” That was until the second round when a takedown by Esparza led to a reversal by Zhang. The former champion took Esparza’s back and sunk in the fight-ending submission.
Zhang, who was fighting someone other than Rose Namajunas or Joanna Jedrzejczyk since 2019, was the heavy betting favorite for this co-main event. Outside of a few good scrambles by Esparza this was a complete showing for Zhang.
Check out the full fight video highlights below courtesy of UFC/ESPN:
Coming to get her belt back!@MMAWeili enters for another shot at gold #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/GeJLc15u6Y
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Enter the two-time strawweight champion! @CarlaEsparza1 set to defend her title in our #UFC281 co-main pic.twitter.com/v9dbZJBer6
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
Here. We. GO! #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/vmwrMNaGcd
— UFC (@ufc) November 13, 2022
WEILI ZHANG AND NEWWWWW CHAMP BY RNC IN ROUND 2 #UFC281 pic.twitter.com/oeO1Pg4cF2
— Spinnin Backfist (@SpinninBackfist) November 13, 2022
For complete UFC 281 results and coverage click here.