Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Weili Zhang would rather take a fight against Rose Namajunas then Joanna Jedrzejczyk next.
UFC strawweight Weili Zhang has played down a fight?? with Joanna Jedrzejczyk, stating the former champion? “isn’t the fighter she used to be?.”
Jedrzejczyk got back in the win column last weekend when she defeated Michelle Waterson by unanimous decision in the main event of UFC Tampa. It was the 32-year-old’s second win in her last five UFC appearances and with a lack of clear contenders at strawweight the win put Jedrzejczyk in pole position for a title shot.
However, talking recently to TMZ Sports, Zhang feels Jedrzejczyk isn’t quite what she used to be, instead the Chinese champ would prefer a fight with Rose Namajunas.
“For Joanna, I don’t think she’s the fighter she used to be, I’m not very interested,” Zhang said. “She needs me more than I need her and she is struggling in the division to fight me, but I don’t know if I will give her the chance. I want to fight the best, I think maybe Rose is a good [choice].” (Transcription via MMA Mania)
Zhang, who is yet to defend her strawweight title since winning it against Jessica Andrade at UFC Shenzhen in August, also spoke about her hopes of eventually moving up in weight to fight flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko.
“If I had the chance I’d like to go up a weight class and fight the best and right now I think Valentina is one of the best female fighters,” Zhang said.