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J?drzejczyk Gives Very Confident Prediction For Esparza Vs. Zhang

Joanna J?drzejczyk has picked Weili Zhang to get it done against Carla Esparza if the duo are to meet in a championship bout. In a rematch of their highly memorable 2020 fight, J?drzejczyk lost to Zhang via KO at UFC 275 last night. The 34-year-old was overmatched by the Chinese fighter from the outset. Zhang…

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Joanna J?drzejczyk has picked Weili Zhang to get it done against Carla Esparza if the duo are to meet in a championship bout.

In a rematch of their highly memorable 2020 fight, J?drzejczyk lost to Zhang via KO at UFC 275 last night. The 34-year-old was overmatched by the Chinese fighter from the outset. Zhang took J?drzejczyk down multiple times in round one, landing a series of brutal elbows from on top. Then in the second round, Zhang unleashed a spinning backfist to knock Joanna out cold.

Having lost five of her last seven fights, J?drzejczyk took off her gloves and announced her retirement from MMA in her post-fight Octagon interview. The Pole ends her UFC run with a 10-5 record, having fought in the promotion since 2014.

J?drzejczyk Backs Weili Zhang To Defeat Carla Esparza

Having fought Zhang on two occasions and felt the raw power and athleticism of the 32-year-old, J?drzejczyk knows a thing or two about how good Zhang is.

When asked at the UFC 275 post-fight press conference who would get their hand raised in a potential fight between Zhang and strawweight champ Carla Esparza, Joanna answered without hesitation.

“First round for Weili Zhang,” said J?drzejczyk. “She’s so strong. Yeah, first round.”

Weili Zhang Joanna Jedrzejczyk — Image Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

Once a rival of Zhang, now seemingly an admirer, J?drzejczyk paid tribute to the Chinese fighter’s power and striking.

“She really surprised me with her strength (on the) ground,” said Joanna. “Because we know she’s a striker, but she was very strong on the ground. Very beautiful work. Very beautiful work.”

J?drzejczyk also has firsthand knowledge of what Esparza brings to the table, having defeated her in 2015 to win the title. That was, however, long before Esparza’s current six-fight win streak. But Joanna still feels Zhang will get it done if the duo are to meet soon.

“So it’s going to be an interesting fight, but I truly believe that Weili’s going to be becoming the champ,” said J?drzejczyk.

Do you think Joanna J?drzejczyk is right to pick Weili Zhang over Carla Esparza?

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J?drzejczyk Gives Very Confident Prediction For Esparza Vs. Zhang

Continue Reading J?drzejczyk Gives Very Confident Prediction For Esparza Vs. Zhang at MMA News.

Joanna J?drzejczyk has picked Weili Zhang to get it done against Carla Esparza if the duo are to meet in a championship bout.

J?drzejczyk Backs Weili Zhang To Defeat Carla Esparza

Having fought Zhang on two occasions and felt the raw power and athleticism of the 32-year-old, J?drzejczyk knows a thing or two about how good Zhang is.

When asked at the UFC 275 post-fight press conference who would get their hand raised in a potential fight between Zhang and strawweight champ Carla Esparza, Joanna answered without hesitation.

“First round for Weili Zhang,” said J?drzejczyk. “She’s so strong. Yeah, first round.”

Once a rival of Zhang, now seemingly an admirer, J?drzejczyk paid tribute to the Chinese fighter’s power and striking.

“She really surprised me with her strength (on the) ground,” said Joanna. “Because we know she’s a striker, but she was very strong on the ground. Very beautiful work. Very beautiful work.”

“So it’s going to be an interesting fight, but I truly believe that Weili’s going to be becoming the champ,” said J?drzejczyk.

Do you think Joanna J?drzejczyk is right to pick Weili Zhang over Carla Esparza?

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Brazilian Judge Presents Simple Solution For MMA Scoring

A Brazilian judge has a simple solution to fix MMA scoring, and it doesn’t require any changes to the current system or judging criteria. Sherdog.com recently discussed the topic of scoring with Guilherme Bravo, a Brazilian MMA judge who is also the author of “In The Judges’ Hands.” Bravo thinks there’s room in the current…

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A Brazilian judge has a simple solution to fix MMA scoring, and it doesn’t require any changes to the current system or judging criteria.

Sherdog.com recently discussed the topic of scoring with Guilherme Bravo, a Brazilian MMA judge who is also the author of “In The Judges’ Hands.” Bravo thinks there’s room in the current criteria to make scores more comprehensive, assuming other judges are willing to get on board.

“The 10-point-must system is perfect, I don’t see any need to change rules,” Bravo said. “The problem is not the rules system. The scores 10-10 and 10-8 are in the rules and must be used more.”

Judging in MMA is always a contentious topic, and cards such as the Holly Holm vs. Ketlen Vieira-headlined UFC Vegas 55 have only served to intensify the debate as of late.

The Brazilian judge specifically alluded to the recent Sterling vs. Yan and Namajunas vs. Esparza rematches to outline the advantages of his suggestion.

“The effective grappling of Sterling in the second round should be considered a 10-8, while the first round of Rose vs. Esparza [should be a] 10-10. If those rounds were scored [like that], there wouldn’t have been any controversy.”

Bravo used Sterling vs. Yan 2 as an example of a fight where judges should have utilized 10-8 scorecards. (Getty Images)

Namajunas vs. Esparza 2 drew controversy for perceived large periods of inactivity from both fighters, causing some to question whether 10-10 scorecards should have been utilized.

In the case of Sterling vs. Yan, Aljamain Sterling was able to take Yan’s back and control him on the ground for large periods in two different rounds but only received 10-9 scorecards from all three judges.

Recent controversial decisions have resulted in some calls for implementation of open scoring, where fighters’ corners are made aware of judges’ scores immediately after each round. Combate Global, Invicta FC, and Legacy Fighting Alliance have all experimented with this system, but Bravo doesn’t see it as a viable solution.

“I really don’t see any advantage in that,” Bravo told Sherdog.com. “What if judges award different scores? The corner must bring a calculator instead of giving instructions to his fighter during the minute he has between rounds? It really doesn’t make sense to me.”

Maintaining the current scoring system and judging criteria would certainly be the less disruptive option to limit controversial decisions, but it’s also reliant on more judges following Bravo’s advice.

What’s your opinion on Guilhereme Bravo’s comments? Should judges be more willing to use 10-10 and 10-8 scorecards in MMA?

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Zhang Feels Namajunas Did Not Fight Like A True Champion At UFC 274

UFC women’s strawweight contender Zhang Weili has given her take on fellow former champion Rose Namajunas’ performance at UFC 274 last month. This weekend at UFC 275, Zhang will enter the Octagon for the first time since back-to-back losses to Namajunas in 2021. While the first, a head-kick knockout, saw the title ripped from her…

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UFC women’s strawweight contender Zhang Weili has given her take on fellow former champion Rose Namajunas’ performance at UFC 274 last month.

This weekend at UFC 275, Zhang will enter the Octagon for the first time since back-to-back losses to Namajunas in 2021. While the first, a head-kick knockout, saw the title ripped from her grasp, the rematch saw “Magnum” fall on the wrong side of a narrow split-decision verdict.

But as she prepares for an attempt to rebound in another rematch on Saturday, this time against Joanna J?drzejczyk, Zhang is in a position to secure another chance at regaining her place on the throne after just one win.

That opportunity has been granted to her after Namajunas was unseated by Carla Esparza at UFC 274 in what many have branded the worst title fight in modern UFC history.

Across five rounds, neither woman engaged on the feet. While the way that the bout played out was confusing, the encouragement from Namajunas’ corner to continue with the same tactics was perhaps most baffling.

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Now, as she looks to capitalize on the opening granted to her by “Thug Rose,” Zhang has discussed what went wrong for her former opponent in Arizona. According to the Chinese star, Namajunas had the completely wrong attitude when the cage door closed.

“I feel like, definitely Rose was feeling a lot of pressure when she stepped into the Octagon,” said Zhang during her appearance at UFC 275 media day. “Definitely she wanted to take care of her belt and didn’t want to fight hard, wanted to fight more strategically and easily against Carla.

“But, as a champion, as an MMA fighter, you should not think about that. You should always, in the fight, (put) your everything into the Octagon, and fight your heart out. I don’t think Rose should fight with an attitude like (she did),” concluded Zhang.

While the Chinese contender has shared the cage with the likes of Namajunas, Tecia Torres, and Jéssica Andrade during her time in the UFC, she is yet to go toe-to-toe with newly-crowned strawweight queen Esparza. Should she leave Singapore with a second victory over J?drzejczyk this weekend, it stands to reason that will change.

From there, “Magnum” will target a second reign with the gold, which would likely lead to a third date with Namajunas down the line should the American rebound from her disappointing defeat at UFC 274.

Do you agree with Zhang Weili? Did Rose Namajunas fight with the wrong attitude at UFC 275?

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White Confirms J?drzejczyk/Weili Winner Gets Next Strawweight Title Shot

The highly anticipated rematch between former strawweight champions Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili will have high stakes. J?drzejczyk and Weili will compete in a featured bout on the UFC 275 main card in Singapore this Saturday. The two former 115lb champions will square off in a rematch two years in the making after their instant…

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The highly anticipated rematch between former strawweight champions Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili will have high stakes.

J?drzejczyk and Weili will compete in a featured bout on the UFC 275 main card in Singapore this Saturday. The two former 115lb champions will square off in a rematch two years in the making after their instant classic went to Weili via a split decision at UFC 248.

Both J?drzejczyk and Weili are looking to earn another shot at the strawweight throne against Carla Esparza, and they’ll get the opportunity to compete for it at UFC 275.

During a recent interview with MMA Underground, UFC President Dana White revealed what’s on the line with Jedrzejczyk vs. Weili 2.

“This would definitely be that whoever wins this will definitely fight Esparza for the title,” White said. (h/t BJ Penn)

Esparza earned the title over Rose Namajunas at UFC 274 via a split decision. After the fight was anything but fan-friendly, White hinted that fight fans aren’t clamoring for those two fighters to run it back for a third time.

J?drzejczyk defeated Esparza for the strawweight title back at UFC 185. She would go on to defend the title five times before suffering back-to-back losses to Namajunas.

Weili has also lost two fights to Namajunas but has yet to fight Esparza during her UFC career. She earned the title over then-champion Jéssica Andrade back in Aug. 2019 before successfully defending her title against J?drzejczyk.

While the J?drzejczyk/Weili rematch won’t be five rounds and won’t be for a title, it’ll have the feel of one with what’s on the line for both women.

How do you think Joanna J?drzejczyk, Zhang Weili match up with Carla Esparza?

Continue Reading White Confirms J?drzejczyk/Weili Winner Gets Next Strawweight Title Shot at MMA News.

Suarez Questions Why Namajunas Was So Scared Of Esparza’s Wrestling

Like most, Tatiana Suarez was left confused by former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas’ approach against Carla Esparza last month. UFC 274 was one of the most-anticipated cards of this year so far, and in many ways it delivered. But while the headliner saw Charles Oliveira record a memorable submission victory over Justin…

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Like most, Tatiana Suarez was left confused by former two-time UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Rose Namajunas’ approach against Carla Esparza last month.

UFC 274 was one of the most-anticipated cards of this year so far, and in many ways it delivered. But while the headliner saw Charles Oliveira record a memorable submission victory over Justin Gaethje 3:22 into the contest, 25 minutes of co-main event action offered much less.

After a memorable 2021, Namajunas was looking to extend her second reign beyond the length of her first in a rematch against Esparza. While “Cookie Monster” submitted her the first go-around, most were expecting “Thug Rose” to exact revenge in Arizona.

But after five rounds of what could barely even be described as a sparring session, fans were left disappointed, the crowd was left booing, and Namajunas’ was left without the title in her possession.

Not much has changed about the perception of Namajunas’ performance since, even in spite of Pat Barry’s best efforts to explain the strategy in a post-fight interview.

While most remain bewildered at the now-former champ’s inactivity on the feet, which is where most acknowledged she’d have a firm edge over the challenger, Tatiana Suarez also doesn’t understand Namajunas’ grappling fear.

During a recent appearance on The Schmozone podcast, the undefeated 31-year-old admitted that she’s still unsure on what caused the dull affair at UFC 274. But ultimately, Suarez believes that Namajunas entered the contest far more afraid of Esparza’s grappling than was necessary.

“I don’t know if (Esparza) really beat her. I don’t even know what that was. I’m still trying to process it. It was like the battle of the feints out there,” said Suarez. “How do you even score that fight? … I was very surprised at how little she (Namajunas) did. She was so scared of the wrestling, and I honestly don’t think that Carla is that much better in that department than Rose. I feel like Rose could’ve grappled with her a lot more, and it would’ve been fine.

“She fought with Weili Zhang and she grappled with her a lot, and she did well. So I was very surprised that she didn’t grapple more. Why not go on the ground? Why not?” Suarez questioned. “I’ve fought Carla, so I know her strength, right? And so, yeah, I don’t think (she’s stronger than Zhang).”

Whether through too much focus on her 2014 submission loss to Esparza or the prevailing narrative being that the challenger had to force the fight to the ground to win, it was clear that Namajunas’ game plan involved avoiding grappling exchanges at all costs.

Unfortunately, a consequence of that strategy was seemingly avoiding exchanges, period.

Do you agree with Tatiana Suarez? Should Rose Namajunas have been more open to grappling with Carla Esparza at UFC 274?

Continue Reading Suarez Questions Why Namajunas Was So Scared Of Esparza’s Wrestling at MMA News.