Tag: Zhang Weili

Zhang Opens As Slight Favorite For J?drzejczyk Rematch At UFC 275

Zhang Weili has opened as a narrow favorite for her upcoming rematch with fellow former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna J?drzejczyk. It’s safe to say that no fight could have sent fans out of an arena for the final time pre-COVID-19 more satisfied than the barnburner between Zhang and J?drzejczyk did. In the co-main event…

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Zhang Weili has opened as a narrow favorite for her upcoming rematch with fellow former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna J?drzejczyk.

It’s safe to say that no fight could have sent fans out of an arena for the final time pre-COVID-19 more satisfied than the barnburner between Zhang and J?drzejczyk did. In the co-main event of UFC 248, a pay-per-view held in March 2020, fans were treated to a Fight of the Year bout that arguably surpassed any title fight before it, and maybe even any fight, period.

Heading into the contest, then-champ Zhang was riding a title crowning against Jéssica Andrade and a 20-fight win streak. J?drzejczyk, meanwhile, was returning for the first time since her 2019 victory over Michelle Waterson.

Across five rounds, both women left everything in the Octagon. From the vicious exchanges to the brutal hematoma sustained by the Pole, the fight wasn’t short on memorable moments. In an extremely tight affair, it was “Magnum” who emerged victorious via split decision.

If you’d been left wanting more in March 2020 (let’s face it, who wasn’t?), then you’ve got your wish. The pair are set to run it back at UFC 275 on June 11. The pay-per-view is set to mark the promotion’s return to “The Garden City,” Singapore.

After the absolute war fans were treated to when the pair previously shared the Octagon, it’s perhaps no surprise that the opening odds aren’t as wide as prior to their 2020 bout.

Zhang/J?drzejczyk 2 Odds Tighter Than Pre-UFC 248

Ahead of UFC 248, Zhang, who’d looked unstoppable in the UFC since arriving in 2018, was set as a -235 betting favorite. J?drzejczyk, who was 2-3 in her previous three outings, entered the clash as a +195 underdog.

Having witnessed her performance against the Chinese star in 2020, as well as Zhang’s two defeats to Rose Namajunas since, J?drzejczyk has opened as a narrower underdog this time around.

Per BetOnline.ag, while the #1-ranked strawweight is favored at -150, the returning former champ is listed as a +130 underdog.

While it’ll certainly be hard for the pair of elite 115lbers to replicate their insane war this time around, the oddsmakers are certainly ready for a close affair after the way in which the UFC 248 co-main event went down.

As well as this blockbuster rematch, UFC 275 will feature two title fights at the top of the card, along with an intriguing clash of middleweight contenders.

Setting the stage for the main event will be a women’s flyweight championship fight between dominant 125-pound queen Valentina Shevchenko and Taila Santos. Soon after, veteran titleholder Glover Teixeira will look to halt the surge of the wild and unpredictable Ji?í Procházka in the event’s headliner.

Also joining Zhang vs. J?drzejczyk on the stacked main card will be a bout between former 185-pound champ Robert Whittaker and top-five contender Marvin Vettori.

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 248, Zhang Weili or Joanna J?drzejczyk?

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White Touts Zhang Weili Rematch For Joanna J?drzejczyk’s UFC Return

UFC President Dana White likes the idea of a rubber match between former UFC strawweight champions Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili. J?drzejczyk has been away from the Octagon for nearly two years since her first matchup with Weili at UFC 248. It was arguably the greatest fight in women’s MMA history as Weili earned a…

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UFC President Dana White likes the idea of a rubber match between former UFC strawweight champions Joanna J?drzejczyk and Zhang Weili.

J?drzejczyk has been away from the Octagon for nearly two years since her first matchup with Weili at UFC 248. It was arguably the greatest fight in women’s MMA history as Weili earned a split-decision victory.

Joanna J drzejczyk Weili Zhang
Joanna J?drzejczyk and Weili Zhang

Despite the loss, many fans believed that J?drzejczyk did enough to earn the win on the scorecards. Many believed that a rematch would take place eventually and it sounds like it could come to fruition later this year.

J?drzejczyk held a guest fighter press conference at UFC 272. She hinted at her desire to fight Weili for her first fight back in the cage and attempt to settle the score between the former champions.

During his UFC 272 post-fight press conference, White was asked whether or not he liked the idea of booking the J?drzejczyk/Weili rematch.

“Yeah, that’s the fight that makes sense,” White said.

J?drzejczyk has previously touted the idea of a rematch with Weili and claimed that the UFC’s first-ever Chinese champion hasn’t been the same since their fight. Weili has lost back-to-back fights to Rose Namajunas and is looking to potentially earn another title shot down the line.

J?drzejczyk has also suffered two losses to Namajunas but remains intent on reclaiming the UFC strawweight throne. Before her close loss to Weili, she earned dominant wins over Michelle Waterson and Tecia Torres.

Who wins in a Joanna J?drzejczyk /Zhang Weili rematch?

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Zhang Has No Regrets After 2nd Namajunas Loss, Makes Vow For Future

UFC women’s strawweight contender Zhang Weili says she has no regrets about her second defeat to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268, and has vowed to come back stronger.

Heading into 2021, Zhang held the 115-pound gold, was riding a 21-fight win streak, boa…

Zhang Weili, UFC 268: Namajunas vs. Zhang 2

UFC women’s strawweight contender Zhang Weili says she has no regrets about her second defeat to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268, and has vowed to come back stronger.

Heading into 2021, Zhang held the 115-pound gold, was riding a 21-fight win streak, boasted a perfect 5-0 UFC record, and already had a successful title defense over the great Joanna J?drzejczyk under her belt. But while 2020 saw her extend her reign in style in a Fight of the Year contender, last year was less successful for the Chinese star.

At UFC 261, Namajunas provided one of the most memorable moments in the promotion’s history, knocking Zhang out with a first-round head kick in front of the first sold-out crowd in over a year. In doing so, “Thug Rose” became the first woman in UFC history to regain a title.

Seven months later, Zhang had her chance for redemption. In the UFC 268 co-main event, she went five round with the champ inside Madison Square Garden. While many believed “Magnum” did enough to leave the Octagon with the belt back in her possession, Namajunas was awarded the nod on two scorecards.

Zhang: “I’m A New Me”

After her KO loss last April, Zhang was visibly unhappy at the stoppage and seemed reluctant to accept the result. She made a number of comments about the defeat in the following months, including a claim that Namajunas made disparaging comments about her in the build-up in order to turn the fans against the-then strawweight queen, as well as a suggestion that Chris Weidman’s leg break played a part in the result.

However, Zhang’s response to her November setback couldn’t have been more different, despite the incredibly tight nature of it. That positive attitude was clear in a recent interview with People Magazine in China. “Magnum” claimed the defeat has provided her with an opportunity to learn and grow, something she says has built a “new me.”

“Failure is not a bad thing for us. It’s a beginning for us to learn and become stronger. Now I start anew. I’m a new me. A new ‘Beijing Drifter’. I will keep grinding for my dream.”

Despite back-to-back losses, Zhang insists she has no regrets about her UFC 268 performance and is not at a low point in her career. Instead, “Magnum” believes she’s on an upwards surge, and is solely focused on accomplishing her goals when she returns to the Octagon this year.

“I don’t think I’m at a low point right now,” Zhang said. “I think I’m at the point of a final sprint, a point of sprinting upwards.

“There’s no need to regret the past or worry about the future. Just focus on accomplishing every single thing in the present. Eat well when it’s time to eat. Train hard when it’s time to train. Do your best at whatever it is you are doing and the future will not be too bad.” (h/t South China Morning Post)

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNUcz2pBP1/

While her next opponent is yet to be decided, Zhang is seemingly working hard to get back to her best for her next outing. In an exclusive interview with MMA News, Eddie Cha recently revealed Zhang will be returning to the Fight Ready gym in the next few weeks.

When she does begin training again with the likes of Cha and Henry Cejudo, we can expect a fight announcement to come relatively quickly, perhaps in the form of a rematch against J?drzejczyk.

Do you think Zhang Weili will bounce back to the title in the coming months and years?

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Zhang Weili Agrees With Judges’ Decision In Namajunas Rematch

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili agrees with the judges’ verdict at UFC 268, which saw Rose Namajunas retain her title by way of a split decision.

In 2021, Zhang has seen the 115-pound gold taken from her possession, her 21-fight…

Zhang Weili, UFC 268: Namajunas vs. Zhang

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili agrees with the judges’ verdict at UFC 268, which saw Rose Namajunas retain her title by way of a split decision.

In 2021, Zhang has seen the 115-pound gold taken from her possession, her 21-fight win streak snapped, and has fallen to consecutive losses for the first time in her career. Her kryptonite has been the only woman in UFC history to regain a belt, “Thug Rose.”

After a shocking first-round knockout at UFC 261 in April dethroned “Magnum” and ascended Namajunas back to the top of the strawweight mountain, the stage was set for a blockbuster rematch inside Madison Square Garden on November 6.

Across a competitive five rounds, both women had moments of success on the feet and periods of control on the ground. The first half of the contest went well for the challenger, but Namajunas came on strong in the championship rounds. After 25 minutes of action, the result went to the scorecards, where the champ saw two tallies of 49-46 and 48-47 fall in her favor.

Zhang Sees No Controversy In UFC 268 Result

After their first contest ended with a brutal head kick and a flurry of punches on the ground, Zhang strongly protested referee Keith Peterson’s decision to step in. While she may have seen some controversy in that result, “Magnum” knows there was none the second time around.

Discussing the rematch in an interview with Migu, the Chinese star admitted she agreed with the decision to award Namajunas the win, citing her fading cardio in the fifth round as the reason she couldn’t regain her title.

“I think yes, I agree with (the decision). Because I did have cardio issues in the last round. It came down to the last round to determine a winner. This was very important.” (h/t South Morning China Post)

Zhang’s next step is uncertain. While she’s targeting a clash with the surging former champ Carla Esparza, most, including Namajunas, believe “Cookie Monster” has done enough to earn a title shot.

If Namajunas and Esparza do run it back, “Magnum” could feature in a rematch of her own with Joanna J?drzejczyk. The Polish star has set her sights on a return to the Octagon in March or April 2022, and while she’s keen to fight for gold, recently said she won’t wait for the champion if she isn’t ready.

How did you score Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili 2 at UFC 268?

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Zhang Weili Says Grief From First Namajunas Loss Was Almost Unbearable

Zhang Weili is taking some time to reflect on her mindset.

Zhang Weili is coming off her second consecutive loss to Rose Namajunas. Even though she lost twice to the champ, she feels as if she has grown from the experiences. Her first loss to Namaj…

Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili is taking some time to reflect on her mindset.

Zhang Weili is coming off her second consecutive loss to Rose Namajunas. Even though she lost twice to the champ, she feels as if she has grown from the experiences. Her first loss to Namajunas back in April seemed to have had a profound effect on her. She spoke a bit about how she felt following that first bout on her Instagram page.

“After the first fight, when it ended that fast, the grief I felt inside was almost unbearable,” Zhang said. “Think about it, we went to a place that far and brought the whole team then the fight ended as soon as it started. It was agony. It was still painful after we got back. It felt then I could be alright at one moment, like, it is what it is. Then sometimes I’d think about it again and it still hurts, I still struggle to accept it.”

After that first bout with Namajunas, Zhang did a lot to change up her game. She began training with former UFC champion Henry Cejudo and even began some mindest training. She incorporated boo simulation to help her cope with the hostile crowds. She seems to have grown as a fighter in the time between the two fights.

“I gained a whole new understanding of the sport. That’s when I feel like my mindset and everything else changed for real. I find that if you don’t go through those failures, setbacks, and losses you will never be able to grow,” Zhang said. “After I finally experienced it then I think back on everything I’ve been through in the past it felt like I grew up all of a sudden. When you finally get it, you feel enlightened.”

It is unclear where Zhang will go from here with these two losses so fresh. She is still one of the best in the strawweight division and could be matched up with anyone in the top five. Some are interested in seeing her rematch Joanna J?drzejczyk next. Either way, Zhang should be a big part of the UFC 115 pound division for some time, and perhaps she can work her way back up to a trilogy fight with Namajunas.

Do you think Zhang Weili can ever become UFC champion again?

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J?drzejczyk “Super Happy” At Growth Of Strawweight And Women’s MMA

Joanna J?drzejczyk is pleased with the growth of the sport since she was strawweight champion.

While she was technically the second champion at 115lb in the UFC, beating inaugural Carla Esparza in 2015 to get the belt, she has the longest title rei…

Joanna J?drzejczyk

Joanna J?drzejczyk is pleased with the growth of the sport since she was strawweight champion.

While she was technically the second champion at 115lb in the UFC, beating inaugural Carla Esparza in 2015 to get the belt, she has the longest title reign in the division by a long shot. This has led to many fans considering her the best the division has ever seen. Towards the end of her title reign, and especially after she lost the title, strawweight became arguably the most exciting women’s division in the UFC.

The most recent title fight at 115lb saw the woman that snatched the throne from J?drzejczyk, Rose Namajunas, defend the title that she reclaimed in a rematch against the woman that she took it back from, Weili Zhang.

Speaking in a recent interview with South China Morning Post, the Boogeywoman said that she was entertained by the scrap and happy with the way the division has evolved since her time on top.

“It was a good fight. The strawweight division is just evolving. Maybe it’s the lightest division in the UFC, but these girls are on fire. I’m very happy to see that… These girls hit hard, you know. It was good to see that in the strawweight division, I love it… It just motivates me to work harder than before,” J?drzejczyk said.

When asked about how she felt, seeing this evolution within the division during her time away from competition, Joanna J?drzejczyk was not too bothered by it all. In fact, it was the opposite, as she stated her pleasure with seeing the women’s side of MMA continue to blossom.

“I feel super happy. I feel super happy because it’s been a while, you know… I just feel happy for these girls. I always say that Ronda Rousey brought women’s MMA into the next level. But I feel like we are all breaking barriers, and we just build this. I’m very happy to see this and I’m very happy to see more and more women’s main events. I’m just super happy. Ronda was the first one, after that I had a few main event shows, and I’m super happy to see just more and more shows (headlined by women),” J?drzejczyk said.

While it is nice to see Joanna J?drzejczyk showing respect to the women who have continued to grow the sport, hopefully, she will be able to get back in the mix at 115lb soon and continue being a part of the division’s continued growth moving forward.

Watch her full interview in the video below:

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