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Report – UFC 261 Targeted For Las Vegas On April 24, Singapore Plans Shelved

Tentatively expected to travel to Singapore for an April 24 UFC 261 pay-per-view event, the promotion is now targeting a stay in home base, Las Vegas, Nevada for the card — with plans for a showcase in the Far East shelved for the time being. Floating a strawweight title fight for incumbent gold holder, Zhang […]

Floating a strawweight title fight for incumbent gold holder, Zhang Weili against either former champions, Rose Namajunas or Carla Esparza — reports suggested that the organization were planning on fielding an event in Singapore, on the heels of a recent showing from hometown promotion, ONE Championship.

According to a report from Brazilian outlet, Combate and reporter, Raphael Marinho — the UFC is now planning on hosting the event on familiar Las Vegas soil after talks with the local government broke down, with Weili still earmarked to draw the above mentioned, Namajunas, however, if that matchup fails to come to fruition — the promotion will look to Esparza to tackle the current champion. Should Weili and Namajunas square off, Team Oyama staple, Esparza would then target a matchup against Weili’s compatriot, the surging, Yan Xiaonan.

The promotion has been limited to events in Abu Dhabi, UAE — Jacksonville, Florida and Las Vegas, Nevada amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with their last expedition from these locations coming in March of last year where they fielded a lightweight main event between Charles Oliveira and Kevin Lee at UFC Fight Night Brasilia — behind a closed gate.

Scoring the first successful defence of her strawweight throne at UFC 248 in March — Weili met with former division queen, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, battling to a close split decision victory, in the promotion’s consensus Fight of the Year.

Earning her number-one rank at 115-pounds, former champion, Namajunas avenged a May 2019 slam knockout loss to former titleholder, Jessica Andrade — besting the Brazilian at UFC 251 in July in another close affair, nabbing a split decision at the ‘Fight Island’ event.

Inaugural UFC and Invicta FC strawweight champion, Esparza has enjoyed a four-fight undefeated streak since her UFC 228 knockout loss to surging challenger, Tatiana Suarez. Scoring a unanimous decision win over Virna Jandiroba, Esparza notched a trio of close decision triumphs over Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson, and Marina Rodriguez.

Promotional-perfect contender, Xiaonan has amassed a six-fight undefeated streak in six Octagon outings. The Liaoning native has defeated the likes of Kailin Curran, Viviane Pereira, Syuri Kondo, Angela Hill, and in her two most recent appearances, knocked back former title chasers, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Claudia Gadelha.

Manager: Rose Namajunas Still In Talks Over Title Fight With Weili Zhang

Rose Namajunas is still in talks to fight Weili Zhang according to manager Brian Butler. Namajunas — coming off an impressive win over Jessica Andrade — was expected to be the next challenger for Zhang’s strawweight crown. However, UFC president Dana White recently claimed Namajunas didn’t want the fight which could lead to Carla Esparza […]

Rose Namajunas is still in talks to fight Weili Zhang according to manager Brian Butler.

Namajunas — coming off an impressive win over Jessica Andrade — was expected to be the next challenger for Zhang’s strawweight crown. However, UFC president Dana White recently claimed Namajunas didn’t want the fight which could lead to Carla Esparza getting the next shot.

Namajunas as well as her coach and fiance Pat Barry have since denied White’s claims but it still isn’t clear what exactly is causing friction in the negotiations.

As far as Butler is concerned, talks are still ongoing. However, representing all three fighters, he also revealed that Esparza is in the mix.

“We’re still in talks with the UFC about Rose, but I can tell you that Rose is ready,” Butler told MMA Junkie. “Rose has been ready. She’s been ready, she’s been in camp. Rose is ready to fight, honestly, in the next – she can fight on a couple of weeks’ notice. She’s ready to go.

“So we have to see. It could be Rose, it could be Carla, it could be whoever. We’ll see.”

As for Zhang, she hasn’t competed since her split decision war with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 in March last year. However, she has been ready to compete for a while as well and was hoping to do so in Fight Island this month only for the cards to fill up too quick.

And given what she had to endure last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, “Magnum” isn’t particularly keen on competing in the United States anytime soon.

“Weili has been ready to go for some time now,” Butler said. “The only hesitancy is – her last fight, I don’t know if everybody knows the full details on everything that happened. But for her to even get to that fight was trails and trails just to get there. To avoid the COVID, they flew her to Thailand. Then Thailand started to lock down, so they flew her to Abu Dhabi. She was traveling for the last third of that camp.

“She was flying all around the world just to kind of escape getting locked into a country, and then finally gets to Vegas, puts on the performance that she does, and then she’s stuck in Vegas for several months after the fight because she can’t go home. And then when she finally does get home, she has to basically get locked up again for another month. She has been a little bit paranoid to come back Stateside right now until things have calmed down.”

Hopefully, we get to see Zhang vs. Namajunas soon as that’s the fight most fans want to see.

Do you think we’ll see Zhang take on Namajunas next?

Dana White: Rose Namajunas Doesn’t Want A Title Shot

Following Rose Namajunas’s impressive fight of the night performance vs Jessica Andrade many expected her to challenge for Weili Zhang’s UFC Strawweight Title next, Dana White even admitted to working on the fight and trying to find a date for it. However, in a interview with BT Sport UFC President Dana White suggested that “Thug […]

White on the women's strawweight division: "What I'm hearing is Rose does not want a title shot… So we're looking at the rankings and how it plays out, it would play out as Weili vs. Carla Esparza"

— Aaron Bronsteter (@aaronbronsteter) December 16, 2020

White said “What I’m hearing is Rose Namajunas does not want a title shot… So we’re looking at the rankings and how it plays out, it would play out as Weili vs. Carla Esparza.” (Transcribed by Aaron Bronsteter)

However quickly following the UFC Presidents comments, Namajunas’ fiancé and coach, Pat Barry, refused the idea that Namajunas doesn’t want the fight and elaborated that they want the title fight and it wouldn’t make sense to turn down the fight.

I asked Rose Namajunas’ coach/fiancé Pat Barry about this.

His response:
“That is absolutely not true. We absolutely want the title fight.
Who would turn down a title fight? We just dont want to air this out publicly. If there was some confusion they can call us to clear it up." https://t.co/qoxmzLGyxk

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) December 16, 2020

“That is absolutely not true,” Barry said. “We absolutely want the title fight. Who would turn down a title fight? We just don’t want to air this out publicly. If there was some confusion, they can call us to clear it up.” (Transcribed by Ariel Helwani) Barry then refused to comment further on the matter.

The last UFC Strawweight title fight came in March when Weili Zhang defeated Joanna J?drzejczyk via Split Decision in what many people consider Fight of the Year. The Champion previously expressed interest in fighting Namajunas next for the belt. Zhang said “My preference is to fight Rose because I believe she is the highest level and most-skilled martial artist outside of myself in the division. She would be a good challenge for me.”

Who do you think Weili Zhang will fight next?

Carla Esparza vs. Amanda Ribas Targeted For UFC 256

Former strawweight champion Carla Esparza is expected to face the divisions rising star, Amanda Ribas in the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year according to MMA Fighting, who report. “Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that a fight between Carla Esparza and Amanda Ribas is being targeted for UFC 256. The event is […]

Former strawweight champion Carla Esparza is expected to face the divisions rising star, Amanda Ribas in the UFC’s final pay-per-view event of the year according to MMA Fighting, who report.

“Multiple people with knowledge of the promotion’s plans confirmed to MMA Fighting that a fight between Carla Esparza and Amanda Ribas is being targeted for UFC 256. The event is scheduled to take place Dec. 12 with a location yet to be officially announced. Per multiple sources, verbal agreements are in place with bout agreements expected to be signed soon.”

Esparza is currently ranked #7 in the division after putting together an impressive run of form. ‘The Cookie Monster’ has won four straight beating Virna Jandiroba, Alexa Grasso, Michelle Waterson, and Marina Rodriguez to propel herself back into title contention.

Ribas has won five straight including four fights inside the UFC. The 27-year-old Brazilian fighter claimed wins over Emily Whitmire, Mackenzie Dern and Randa Markos. Last time out she made her flyweight debut when she took on Paige VanZant in the most high-profile fight of her career. Ribas quickly tapped ‘PVZ’ in what proved to be the popular fighters’ final UFC bout before signing with BKFC.

UFC 256 is set to be headlined by welterweight king Kamaru Usman who will defend his title against Gilbert Burns. In the co-main event two-division champion Amanda Nunes puts her featherweight belt on the line against Megan Anderson.

Who do you think wins this pivotal strawweight fight? Carla Esparza or Amanda Ribas?

UFC on ESPN 14 Results: Robert Whittaker, Fabricio Werdum Headline Winners

Robert Whittaker picked up a unanimous-decision win over Darren Till to close out the UFC’s July schedule from Fight Island in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Reaper earned a 48-47 score on all three judges’ cards for the hard-fought decision…

Carla Esparza Outpoints Marina Rodriguez – UFC Fight Island 3 Results

Next up on the UFC Fight Island 3 main card is a women’s strawweight contest between Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez. Round 1: Esparza takes Rodriguez down right away after avoiding some big strikes. There doesn’t seem to be much action but Esparza seems to be bleeding from the top from a strike from Rodriguez. […]

Next up on the UFC Fight Island 3 main card is a women’s strawweight contest between Carla Esparza and Marina Rodriguez.

Round 1: Esparza takes Rodriguez down right away after avoiding some big strikes. There doesn’t seem to be much action but Esparza seems to be bleeding from the top from a strike from Rodriguez. Rodriguez reverses soon after and gets to her feet. Rodriguez looks to land a head kick but it’s blocked. Rodriguez lands a number of strikes before Esparza shoots for a desperate takedown but it’s defended.

Round 2: The second round starts and Esparza has some swelling on her left eye. Rodriguez starts to strike but Esparza takes her down again and starts to land sme strikes from the top. Rodriguez reverses with some scrambles as the round ends. Not a lot of action in that round.

Round 3: They start to strike before Esparza momentarily gets Rodriguez on the ground. She lands some big strikes but Rodriguez gets up and separates. Esparza takes her down soon after and controls her for quite some time. Rodriguez eventually gets up but Esparza times a takedown perfectly to end the round on top.

Official result: Carla Esparza defeats Marina Rodriguez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 30-27).