Tag: Zhang Weili

Fighters React To Rose Namajunas Edging Out Zhang Weili At UFC 268

Rose Namajunas made her first title defense in her second reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion against Zhang Weili.

Their first fight took place at the UFC 261 pay-per-view event from Jacksonville, Florida at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena…

Rose Namajunas made her first title defense in her second reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion against Zhang Weili.

Their first fight took place at the UFC 261 pay-per-view event from Jacksonville, Florida at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena where Rose got a TKO win after connecting with a head kick to win the title. 

The two fighters met in a rematch on Saturday night (November 6, 2021) at the UFC 268 pay-per-view event from New York City, New York at the Madison Square Garden. In the first round, Weili slipped on a punch and was later taken down. Rose did a nice job of taking the range while Weili was moving a lot side-to-side for outside strikes. Rose was mostly walking her down. In the second round, Weili stumbled her with a left hand then caught a kick and scored a takedown. Rose did get back to her feet.

They did some clinch fighting in the third round. Weili took her down and eventually got in full mount, but time ran out. The fourth round saw Weili work for the takedown, which she got twice, but Rose stood up on the first and scrambled on top during the second. Rose did get a takedown in the final round. Rose got the split decision win. 

Peep the highlights of the fight courtesy of the UFC’s official Twitter account:

Before their first fight, Zhang was coming off a decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 and then stunned Jessica Andrade at the UFC Shenzhen event from the Shenzhen Universiade Sports Centre in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China by scoring the TKO win last August to win the title. She holds wins over Danielle Taylor, Jessica Aguilar and then Tecia Torres by decision at the UFC 235 PPV event on March 2, 2019 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Namajunas scored three straight wins over the likes of Michelle Waterson by submission and two wins – one by KO and another by decision – by beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk back-to-back before losing to Jessica Andrade at UFC 237 then beating her at UFC 251.

Let’s see how the fighters reacted to the outcome of this fight: 

https://twitter.com/TheTruthJackson/status/1457204140216659971

UFC 268 Results: Kamaru Usman vs. Colby Covington, Rose Namajunas vs. Zhang Weili

MMA News is providing ongoing coverage of UFC 268. We’ve got you covered with live results, video highlights, and post-fight tidbits.

Continue Reading Fighters React To Rose Namajunas Edging Out Zhang Weili At UFC 268 at MMA News.

UFC 268 Results: Usman vs. Covington 2

UFC 268 ResultsLowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 results throughout the night (Sat. November 6. 2021) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. Taking main event status in the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November 2019, bad-blooded welterweight title rematch between reigning gold holder, […]

UFC 268 Results

LowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 268: Usman vs. Covington 2 results throughout the night (Sat. November 6. 2021) live from Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York.

Taking main event status in the promotion’s return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November 2019, bad-blooded welterweight title rematch between reigning gold holder, Kamaru Usman and the former interim titleholder, #1 ranked contender, Colby Covington.

Attempting to score a second career victory over Clovis native, Covington, Usman also looks to add to his four consecutive title defenses against his rival, following an April knockout stoppage over two-time title challenger, Jorge Masvidal.

For Covington, the outspoken top-contender last featured in September of last year in the headlining bout of UFC Vegas 11 where he secured a fifth round TKO victory over common-opposition, former undisputed champion, Tyron Woodley who suffered a fifth round rib injury.

In the first of our championship doubleheader, strawweight gold is on the line between current queen and two-time champion, Rose Namajunas and former champion, the #1 ranked, Zhang Weili — with the pair meeting once again following an April showdown.

Co-headlining UFC 261 on that occasion, Weili suffered a first round high kick knockout loss to Namajunas — who became the first two-time strawweight champion in the history of the organization.

UFC 268 Results: Usman vs. Covington 2

Main Card: (ESPN+ PPV 10 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Colby Covington

Strawweight: Rose Namajunas (c) vs. Zhang Weili

Bantamweight: Frankie Edgar vs. Marlon Vera

Featherweight: Shane Burgos vs. Billy Quarantillo

Lightweight: Justin Gaethje vs. Michael Chandler

Preliminary Card: (ESPNews/ESPN+ 8 p.m. ET)

Middleweight: Alex Pereira vs. Andreas Michailidis

Lightweight: Al Iaquinta vs. Bobby Green

Middleweight: Phil Hawes vs. Chris Curtis

Middleweight: Edmen Shahbazyan vs. Nassourdine Imavov

Early Preliminary Card: (ESPN+/UFC Fight Pass 6 p.m. ET)

Welterweight: Ian Garry vs. Jordan Williams

Heavyweight: Gian Villante vs. Chris Barnett

Light Heavyweight: Dustin Jacoby vs. John Allan

Catchweight (148.4lbs): Melsik Baghdasaryan vs. Bruno Souza

Catchweight (127.4lbs): Ode’ Osbourne def. C.J. Vergara via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)

Zhang Weili Preparing For Hostile UFC 268 Crowd With Simulated Boos

Zhang Weili isn’t leaving any stone unturned to prepare for a hostile away crowd at UFC 268, with her team even simulating boos and verbal abuse during training.

Zhang will attempt to win back her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas when they mee…

Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili isn’t leaving any stone unturned to prepare for a hostile away crowd at UFC 268, with her team even simulating boos and verbal abuse during training.

Zhang will attempt to win back her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas when they meet this Saturday at Madison Square Garden in New York. In their first encounter just over six months ago, Zhang was knocked out spectacularly inside two minutes by a Namajunas head kick, ending her 21-fight win streak.

During that loss, “Magnum” was booed mercilessly by the Jacksonville, Florida crowd at UFC 261—the first full capacity event since the COVID-19 outbreak—and many believed the hostile treatment spooked the 32-year-old. Zhang herself even later admitted that she wasn’t prepared for the level of animosity dispensed at her.

Rose Namajunas Zhang Weili
Photo via Instagram @espnmma

Zhang Weili Takes Her Mental Preparations To A Bizarre New Level

This weekend, Zhang isn’t expecting anything different from the New York crowd, and as such, she’s mentally preparing for the prospect of walking into a wall of boos. And the best way to prepare, thinks her team, is to simulate that hostility while Zhang is training.

“After having the experience last time, we understand that because in the US I am away and my opponent is at home, a lot of things will definitely happen,” Zhang told Chinese media this week (h/t South China Morning Post). “So after we came this time, we have made targeted preparations for our training and the atmosphere of the scene. We are doing simulations, there will be audiences, they are not optimistic about you, they come to boo you.”

So, expect to see a far more mentally resilient Zhang Weili at UFC 268, and possibly, a new and improved version of herself. After all, she’s been training at Fight Ready MMA in Scottsdale, Arizona, under the tutelage of none other than “Triple C” himself, Henry Cejudo.

What do you think? Will Zhang Weili reclaim her strawweight title from Rose Namajunas?

Continue Reading Zhang Weili Preparing For Hostile UFC 268 Crowd With Simulated Boos at MMA News.

Dern: Namajunas Will Have All The Answers To Zhang At UFC 268

UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern believes 115-pound champion Rose Namajunas will defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year at UFC 268.

Namajunas is set for the first defense of her second title reign in this weekend’s co-main…

Mackenzie Dern, Rose Namajunas, Zhang Weili

UFC women’s strawweight contender Mackenzie Dern believes 115-pound champion Rose Namajunas will defeat Zhang Weili for the second time this year at UFC 268.

Namajunas is set for the first defense of her second title reign in this weekend’s co-main event. Inside New York City’s prestigious Madison Square Garden, “Thug Rose” will be competing in a rematch with her third successive opponent.

After dethroning Joanna J?drzejczyk in 2017, the Wisconsin native defeated the Polish star again five months later. Having lost the belt to Jéssica Andrade in 2019, Namajunas then ran it back with the Brazilian a year later in Abu Dhabi. She’ll now face former champion Zhang for the second time in 2021.

The pair previously collided at UFC 261 in April. Namajunas was aiming to become the first women to defeat “Magnum” since 2013. The Chinese star had built a 21-fight winning streak and held the strawweight gold at the time. She reached the strawweight mountaintop through a 5-0 UFC record that included a title crowning against Andrade and a Fight of the Year defense against J?drzejczyk.

Just over a minute into the very first round, Namajunas landed a flush left head kick that sent Zhang to the mat. After some follow up strikes, Keith Petersen waved the fight off and “Thug Rose” became the first woman in UFC history to regain a title.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVtX-f-LffB/

Dern Expects To Hear ‘And Still’ At UFC 268

Despite the incredible form of the division’s inaugural champ Carla Esparza, the UFC opted to grant Zhang an immediate rematch. With a new haircut, a new focus, and some new teammates in Henry Cejudo and Deiveson Figueiredo, “Magnum” will be looking to have gold wrapped around her waist again on November 6.

But like many, #5-ranked contender Mackenzie Dern isn’t expecting to see Zhang become the second female fighter to regain gold in the UFC. Speaking to MMA journalist James Lynch, the Arizona-born Brazilian gave her prediction for Saturday’s co-main event. While she expects the contest to see more action than their first clash, Dern believes Namajunas will have all the answers to Zhang’s attack.

“I think it will go longer than how long it went the first one. But I think that Rose will win. The last time I thought that Zhang Weili would win and man, Rose just like, proved me wrong and maybe a lot of people wrong… I think that Rose will win again… I think that, even though Zhang Weili, I think she’s gonna come maybe more focused, I guess, I think that Rose is gonna have all the answers for her.”

Despite falling out of title contention with a main event loss to Marina Rodriguez last month, Dern is still only 28 and possesses championship aspirations. Having jumped back into the division’s top five following J?drzejczyk’s removal due to inactivity, Dern will have a close eye on this weekend’s title fight.

Do you agree with Mackenzie Dern? Will Rose Namajunas leave Madison Square Garden with the strawweight gold?

Continue Reading Dern: Namajunas Will Have All The Answers To Zhang At UFC 268 at MMA News.

Zhang Weili No Longer Feels Friendly Towards “Fake” Rose Namajunas

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili has slammed “fake” Rose Namajunas for her pre-UFC 261 comments, claiming she doesn’t feel “friendly” towards her rival anymore.

Before entering the Octagon with Namajunas in April, Zhang hadn’t ta…

Zhang Weili, Rose Namajunas

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Zhang Weili has slammed “fake” Rose Namajunas for her pre-UFC 261 comments, claiming she doesn’t feel “friendly” towards her rival anymore.

Before entering the Octagon with Namajunas in April, Zhang hadn’t tasted defeat since her professional mixed martial arts debut in 2013. After 21 consecutive victories, “Magnum” found herself at the top of the UFC’s 115-pound mountain and with a successful defense under her belt.

After dethroning Jéssica Andrade in front of her home crowd in Shenzhen, China, Zhang retained her belt in a five-round Fight of the Year war against former champ Joanna J?drzejczyk. After a memorable first defense, Zhang hoped to emerge victorious again in front of the first UFC crowd in over a year. But inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, the 32-year-old was knocked out by Namajunas.

Now over six months later, Zhang has her chance for redemption. In the UFC 268 co-main event, she’ll enter the cage with Namajunas for the second time. This time, she has no intention of exchanging pleasantries with the champion.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CVx4eFclT2S/

Zhang Believes Namajunas Crossed The Line

A sizable chunk of the narrative heading into their UFC 261 clash was Rose Namajunas’ comments about Zhang Weili’s home country. Ahead of the fight, “Magnum” suggested she was keen on developing a friendship with the then-challenger after they threw hands (via the South China Morning Post). Any chance of that happening appeared to be dampened after Namajunas compared her fight with Zhang to a fight against communism, using the term “better dead than red.”

Having previously responded by describing her opponent’s comments as “a joke,” Zhang has once again condemned Namajunas. According to the #1-ranked strawweight, the champ made those remarks in order to stir up hatred towards “Magnum” from the fans. With that in mind, Zhang has no plans on a friendly embrace with her rival this weekend.

“I was bothered by what she had said,” Zhang told Yahoo! Sports. “The political comments Rose made got the audience not to support me. It was beyond [fair play]. It crossed a line. I don’t feel as friendly toward Rose as a fellow mixed martial artist as I did before. I have a lot more training and I have had a lot more focus on myself.”

Discussing the differences between her feuds with J?drzejczyk and Namajunas, Zhang suggested the Polish star was the opposite of “Thug Rose,” who she described as “fake.” Nevertheless, Zhang believes her disdain towards her upcoming opponent will only provide her more motivation heading into UFC 268.

“Joanna is very direct and blunt, but Rose is more fake and not very direct,” Zhang said. “Joanna is direct as could be, and I knew what I was dealing with. But Rose had a different way and it crossed a line. But it’s got me motivated.”

With Namajunas’ victory at UFC 261, she became the first woman in UFC history to regain a belt after previously losing it. Looking to follow in the champ’s footsteps, Zhang is confident she’ll have the gold wrapped around her waist again come November 6.

“It will show the spirit I have to overcome problems and find a way to be successful,” she said. “I am confident I will do it. Rose lost the belt and then regained it, and I feel I can do that, too.”

Who do you think will have their hand raised at UFC 268, Zhang Weili or Rose Namajunas?

Continue Reading Zhang Weili No Longer Feels Friendly Towards “Fake” Rose Namajunas at MMA News.

J?drzejczyk: Zhang Fight Showed I Deserve More From The UFC

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna J?drzejczyk has revealed that her most recent fight was the first time in her career that she’s felt underpaid by the promotion.

J?drzejczyk, who achieved 115-pound title glory with a victory over Carl…

UFC 248: Zhang vs. J?drzejczyk, Joanna J?drzejczyk

Former UFC Women’s Strawweight Champion Joanna J?drzejczyk has revealed that her most recent fight was the first time in her career that she’s felt underpaid by the promotion.

J?drzejczyk, who achieved 115-pound title glory with a victory over Carla Esparza in 2015, hasn’t been in action since her blockbuster clash with Zhang last March. In the UFC 248 co-main event, the pair put on one of the greatest fights in UFC history. Their back-and-forth affair ended in a split decision win for the champion, but J?drzejczyk’s immense challenge certainly didn’t go unnoticed.

Despite the incredible fight, which many believe she did enough to win, the defeat meant the polish star has lost four of her last six fights. Prior to her first setback in the sport against current strawweight queen Rose Namajunas, J?drzejczyk had defended her title a record five times.

Whilst her form since 2017 looks poor on paper, two defeats to “Thug Rose” and a decision loss to dominant flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko did little to harm her stock, and her clash with “Magnum” in 2020 had a more positive effect on her reputation than negative.

J?drzejczyk Reveals There’s Big Money On The Table Elsewhere

Despite the fanfare and plaudits surrounding her five-round war with Zhang, J?drzejczyk has revealed the fight opened her eyes to a not so thrilling aspect of the sport.

Having previously cited Kevin Holland as proof that the fighter pay debate is flawed, UFC President Dana White recently made use of Joanna J?drzejczyk’s spending, suggesting her Instagram account displays how “very rich” she is. However, the 34-year-old has seemingly contradicted White’s claims.

During a recent appearance on Ariel Helwani’s The MMA Hour, J?drzejczyk revealed her barnburner with Zhang made her feel undervalued for the first time in her career. Now, in her eyes, she deserves a bigger slice of the promotion’s fairly monstrous and lucrative cake.

When asked if the bout left her feeling underpaid, the veteran admitted it did. She further revealed that whilst she can’t see herself competing under the banners of any other promotions, there are sizeable sums of money on the table away from the UFC.

“Yes, I did. For the first time, yeah. For the first time in my life. For the first time in my life. And you were there. You saw so many people with Polish flags cheering for me. ‘She’s the champ,’ people were cheering for me. And I feel like I deserve bigger piece of cake. And I don’t see myself fighting out of the UFC, but there are people who are interested in having me, putting big money on the table. But yeah, it’s big.”

When asked whether she’ll avoid returning to the Octagon before being offered better remuneration, J?drzejczyk suggested she can’t afford to wait.

“Somehow I will have to. And maybe it’s bad for the next negotiations, but, yeah, sooner or later, I will get what I really deserve.”

The Pole went on to say she’s targeting March or April 2022 as the date for her next Octagon outing, with the hopes of discussing an improved deal with the UFC shortly after. She ultimately suggested the addition of PPV points to her contract would resolve any negative feeling she currently holds towards her pay.

Do you think brutal wars like Zhang vs. J?drzejczyk show that UFC fighters don’t get paid enough?

Continue Reading J?drzejczyk: Zhang Fight Showed I Deserve More From The UFC at MMA News.