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UFC 261 Highlights: Rose Namajunas Wins Strawweight Title With Head Kick KO

Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas served as the co-main event and it was just what the promotion had hyped. The two fighters met in a women’s strawweight title bout on Saturday night (April 24, 2021) at the UFC 261 pay-per-view event from Jacksonvil…

Rose Namajunas Quickly Stops Zhang Weili – UFC 261 Results

In the UFC 261 co-main event, Zhang Weili puts her strawweight title on the line against Rose Namajunas. Round 1: Zhang Weili opens up with a leg kick to Rose Namajunas. The former champion is bouncing around the Octagon early. Weili is trying to slow her down with kicks. ‘Thug Rose’ is Popping her jab. […]

In the UFC 261 co-main event, Zhang Weili puts her strawweight title on the line against Rose Namajunas.

Round 1: Zhang Weili opens up with a leg kick to Rose Namajunas. The former champion is bouncing around the Octagon early. Weili is trying to slow her down with kicks. ‘Thug Rose’ is Popping her jab. Namajunas lands a huge head kick that drops the champion. She follows up with ground strikes to finish the fight and reclaim the 115lb belt.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Rose Namajunas def. Zhang Weili via TKO in round one.

UFC 261 Results: Usman vs. Masvidal II

LowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal results throughout the afternoon (Sat. 24th. April 2021) from the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida. Taking main event honours as part of a championship tripleheader, welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman meets with BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal in a rematch of their UFC 251 main event last […]

LowKick MMA will be bringing you UFC 261: Usman vs. Masvidal results throughout the afternoon (Sat. 24th. April 2021) from the Vystar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville, Florida.

Taking main event honours as part of a championship tripleheader, welterweight champion, Kamaru Usman meets with BMF titleholder, Jorge Masvidal in a rematch of their UFC 251 main event last July on ‘Fight Island’.

Initially meeting last summer on just six day’s notice, Masvidal saw his three-fight winning spree halted by Usman via a largely one-sided unanimous decision loss.

In the time since, Masvidal has yet to compete, while Usman notched his third successful title defence in the form of a third round knockout win over Gilbert Burns in the main event of UFC 258 in February.

In the co-main event slot, strawweight champion, Zhang Weili attempts to score her second successful defence of the 115-pound title, as she matches with former gold holder, Rose Namajunas.

Weili returns for the first time since UFC 248 last March, where she defeated another former titleholder, Joanna Jedrzejczyk via a close split decision, in the consensus Fight of the Year.

For Namajunas, the Denver-based contender returns as the number-one contender off the back of a close split decision win of her own over another former champion, Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 in July, in a rematch win.

In the first of our title tripleheader, Valentina Shevchenko puts her flyweight championship on the line as she meets with the aforenoted former strawweight best, Andrade.

Shevchenko attempts to secure her fifth successful defence of the 125-pound title, having taken home a unanimous decision win over Jennifer Maia in the co-main event of UFC 255 in November.

For Parana native, Andrade, the former strawweight champion would become a two-weight champion with a win over Shevchenko, after earning her shot at gold via a first round knockout win over one-time title challenger, Katlyn Chookagian at UFC Fight Island 6 in October in her divisional bow.

UFC 261 Results: Usman vs. Masvidal II

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

Welterweight: Kamaru Usman (c) vs. Jorge Masvidal II

Strawweight: Zhang Weili (c) vs. Rose Namajunas

Flyweight: Valentina Shevchenko (c) vs. Jessica Andrade

Middleweight: Uriah Hall vs. Chris Weidman II

Light Heavyweight: Anthony Smith vs. Jimmy Crute

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

Welterweight: Alex Oliveira vs. Randy Brown

Welterweight: Dwight Grant vs. Stefan Sekulic

Middleweight: Karl Roberson vs. Brendan Allen

Featherweight: Patrick Sabatini vs. Tristian Connelly

Early Preliminary Card: (ESPN2/ESPN+ 6 p.m. ET)

Bantamweight: Danaa Batgerel vs. Kevin Natividad

Lightweight: Kazula Vargas vs. Rong Zhu

Flyweight: Qileng Aori vs. Jeffrey Molina

Strawweight: Na Liang vs. Ariane Carnelossi

Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas – UFC 261 Staff Predictions

In the UFC 261 co-main event we have an epic strawweight fight between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas. The Chinese champion is hoping to make the second defence of her 115lb belt. ‘Thug Rose’ is planning to regain the belt she lost in 2019. Who’ll win? Let’s see who the LowKickMMA staff are backing. Jordan […]

Jordan Ellis: I’m backing Rose Namajunas to cause an upset at UFC 261. ‘Thug’ is a true mixed martial artist who is capable to getting this done on the feet, on the floor or even by decision. Namajunas made much easier work of Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who I think was unlucky not to get the decision over Zhang last time out. Ultimately, I think Namajunas will get this fight to the mat and lock up a submission for the victory.

Prediction: Rose Namajunas

Alex Lough: The biggest question going into this fight for me is how will Zhang Weili look? She’s coming off what Dana White would call one of the ‘Fights-of-the-Ever’, and an almost 14-month layoff. We’ve seen those kind of wars change a fighter’s career, and Zhang is used to being much more active: she fought 14 times in 21 months prior to starting her UFC career. However, if she comes in looking like the Zhang Weili of old, I don’t see her losing this fight. When it comes to the stand up, I think she holds too much of a power advantage for Rose to overcome. Namajunas might be able to score from the outside early, but once Zhang is able to figure out the distance, she’ll be able to take over (see: Namajunas vs Andrade II). Namajunas will have the advantage in the grappling department, but that requires getting Zhang to the ground, which looks to be about as much fun as tackling a fire hydrant. Plus, it puts Rose in a position to get clinched, where Zhang is just nasty. I get the feeling I’ll know whether I’m right about this one in the first 30 seconds of the fight, but I’m guessing we’ll hear ‘And Still’.

Prediction: Zhang Weili

Frank Bonada: The hardest fight to call out of UFC 261’s 3 title fights. Namajunas is an excellent submission artist with great striking. However, Zhang is an absolute powerhouse with a seemingly endless gas tank. It’s a hard one to call but I’m leaning g towarda Zhang. Her tendency to up her output towards the end of each round will disrupt Namajunas’ rhythm. I expect it to be an incredible fight with Zhang to edge it via decision.

Prediction: Zhang Weili

Ross Markey: Akin to Zhang Weili vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk last March, Zhang Weili vs. Rose Namajunas is the most competitive fight the promotion could filed for strawweight honours today. Weili is sizeable to say the least at the 115-pound limit, demonstrating real standout power, and against the above-mentioned, Jedrzejczyk, displayed that she can set an impressive pace for five rounds. Namajunas’ footwork and lateral movement is how she really sets up her hands, which have improved no end in recent years. I believe Namajunas will look to push the pace early, without as much hesitation as maybe her rematch with the uber-aggressive, Andrade, but if Weili can weather that initial onslaught, which I believe she can, Namajunas could be on the receiving end of some fight altering damage in the latter rounds. Weili to score her second title knockback via a fourth round TKO.

Prediction: Zhang Weili

Zhang Weili Brushes Off Communism Comments As ‘A Joke’

If Rose Namajunas was trying to get under the skin of Zhang Weili, it doesn’t appear to have worked. The comments coming out of the Namajunas camp have been the topic of much discussion leading up to her fight against Zhang. When asked about her motivation going in to the fight against the Chinese champion, […]

If Rose Namajunas was trying to get under the skin of Zhang Weili, it doesn’t appear to have worked.

The comments coming out of the Namajunas camp have been the topic of much discussion leading up to her fight against Zhang. When asked about her motivation going in to the fight against the Chinese champion, Namajunas said that “it’s better dead than red,” referencing an anti-communism slogan popularized in 1950s America. Of course, Zhang has never supported communism, so many viewed the comments as offensive or at least in poor taste.

While Zhang’s team have dismissed the comments publicly, the champion herself had yet to address the remarks until now (H/T SCMP).

“I saw them then I totally ignored them,” Zhang said on her Zoom call. “I believe as an athlete you have to focus on yourself, and those kinds of comments make no sense. I think it’s a joke.”

Instead, Zhang said she will focus on what she can do inside of the cage. Namajunas’ striking and movement has caused trouble for many of her opponents, most notably knocking out Joanna Jedrzejczyk to claim the strawweight title. Zhang said she’s been preparing for Namajunas’ unique skill set, but feels comfortable wherever the fight goes.

“I believe Rose will fight the same way she has always fought,” she said. “So the first round will see her moving, and feinting, and jabbing. She will keep moving around. She won’t stay in the same spot to trade with me, or to clinch with me. She will want to keep moving around.

“But in Rose’s interviews she has said she will clinch with me and grapple with me to use her jiujitsu skills. So we will all just have to wait and see how the fight will come.”

The strawweight championship clash will be one of three title bouts as the UFC welcomes fans back into the arena at UFC 261. It will be the first time fans are in attendance since UFC 248 in March 2020, which just so happens to be the last time Zhang fought. The lay-off of over a year is new territory for Zhang, who once fought 14 times in 21 months before making her UFC debut. ‘Magnum’ said she’s excited to welcome crowds back to the stands and hopes to feed off their energy.

“I’m super excited that there will be a crowd,” said Zhang. “I love the feel from the crowd and all the reactions you get from the crowd. So I am really looking forward to the fight and to us putting on a show for the fans.”

For those who do show up in Jacksonville – and everyone tuning in around the world – Zhang says they can expect to see the best version of herself.

“I’m stronger, I’m faster and I have a deeper understanding of how to use my physical strength.”

Do you think Rose Namajunas went too far with her comments towards Zhang Weili?

Joanna Jedrzejczyk Wants Winner Of Rose Namjunas vs. Zhang Weili

Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants her belt back. The former UFC strawweight queen has been busy outside of the octagon since her fight of the year performance against Zhang Weili last year. Spending most of the pandemic in her native Poland, Jedrzejczyk has spent the time pursuing other business opportunities. She’s served as a judge on a […]

Joanna Jedrzejczyk wants her belt back.

The former UFC strawweight queen has been busy outside of the octagon since her fight of the year performance against Zhang Weili last year. Spending most of the pandemic in her native Poland, Jedrzejczyk has spent the time pursuing other business opportunities. She’s served as a judge on a Polish dance competition show and is writing her autobiography. Still, her desire to regain what’s she lost is strong. In a recent interview with MMA Fighting, Joanna opens up about what’s she has been up to and what she wants next.

“I’m living my best life,” she shared. “With my personal or business problems, we all have it, and I’m very happy. I take everything that’s happening in my life, and I give a lot. I give 100 percent every single day in everything I do, but I did as much as I can. I’m still an athlete because I really want to do it, but I set my priorities. I have different priorities. I don’t want to be part of this crazy rat race because I was there.”

These new endeavors outside of the octagon have not swayed the former champ away from her unfinished business within it. She asked the UFC for the rematch with whoever comes out of UFC 261. “I want to get the winner of this fight,” said Jedrzejczyk.

“I won’t stop. That’s the thing if I was losing fights by knockout or if I was losing the fights on points and the difference was big but it’s not. I always put on a show and the fights are very close so I want to keep on going.”

“I called Mick [Maynard] a few days ago and I just told him ‘You know what? The baddest b*tch on the planet is back’ so book the fight, watch this fight and tell everybody that I’m next,” Jedrzejczyk said.

“I was waiting for this fight. It’s COVID time, so that’s the only reason why the belt was not stripped. Because once a year you have to defend the belt. But we’re having COVID times but when I was the champ, I was defending this belt like crazy.”

Jedrzejczyk knows that some think it’s inappropriate for her to get the next title shot. She lost her last attempt at regaining the belt in her Fight of the Year performance. But she believes that she has done enough to book the fight.

“I know there are so many people who are like ‘you lost, you have to prove it again.’ I proved it in my last fight, putting on f*cking hell of a show,” Jedrzejczyk said. “Giving the closest fight ever. That’s the thing, Fight of the Year, no gender, no weights. It’s the ticket for the next title fight. That’s the thing. I just don’t want to fight for nothing anymore. That’s the thing.

“If I fight, I fight for big trophies and I don’t have to prove it to anybody.”

Jedrzejczyk remains confident that she will win the rematch with either Namajunas or Weili, but didn’t go as far as to predict the winner of the title fight at UFC 261.

“I wish best of luck to both of them and I hope they will bring the strawweight division even higher than I did the last time with Weili Zhang,” she said. “But I feel like every time I step into the octagon, I break another barrier and limits and records. I did that many times with winning the belt, defending the belt and now with putting on such great shows.”

Do you think Joanna Jedrzejczyk deserves the next strawweight title shot?