Tag: Zhang Weili

Yan Xiaonan current betting favorite to fight Zhang Weili amid rumors of UFC China event in December

Yan Xiaonan betting favorite to fight Zhang Weili at UFC China card in DecemberAmid rumors of an expected return to China for the Octagon before the close of the year, the promotion have been backed to bring with it it’s two most standout talents in the form of two-time and current strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, as well as surging contender, Yan Xiaonan for a potential December 9. showcase.  […]

Yan Xiaonan betting favorite to fight Zhang Weili at UFC China card in December

Amid rumors of an expected return to China for the Octagon before the close of the year, the promotion have been backed to bring with it it’s two most standout talents in the form of two-time and current strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, as well as surging contender, Yan Xiaonan for a potential December 9. showcase. 

Yet to return to ‘The Land of the Dragon’ since August 2019, on that occasion, then-championship challenger, Zhang Weili managed to turn in a stunning first round win over defending strawweight queen, Jessica Andrade – stopping the Brazilian with a blistering first round TKO, to become the first Chinese-born fighter in Octagon history to strike gold.

And according to reports over the course of the weekend, the Octagon is expected to land in China for the first time since that 2019 event later this year, for a blockbuster event on December 9.

Yan Xiaonan betting favorite to face Zhang Weili on potential December card in China

A host of bookies and markets, including new online betting sites are already offering odds on Weili’s next title challenger, with the likes of the aforenoted, Xiaonan, and surging grappling talent, Tatiana Suarez initially expected to emerge as likely candidates to face the dominant Hebei gold holder. 

Naturally, Weili, who is fresh from a unanimous decision win over title challenger, Amanda Lemos earlier this summer, has been pegged to headline the homecoming card.

And given the above-mentioned, Xiaonan’s recent string of victories over both Mackenzie Dern and common-foe, former champion, Andrade, the Liaoning native is currently available as short as even money to stand opposite Weili for the strawweight crown if the Octagon returns to their native China before the close of the year. 

And despite losing her first strawweight championship either side of fights with Rose Namajunas, Weili cemented her Octagon legacy with a pair of memorable fights with former champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk – turning in a first Fight of the Year, before stopping the Pole with a thunderous spinning back-fist KO in a SIngapore rematch last year.

Scaling the throne once more with a stunningly-dominant submission win over inaugural champion, Carla Esparza last November, Weili kicked off her second title reign back in August in the co-main event of UFC 292 in Boston with a decision shutout win over Brazilian phenom, Lemos. 

Avoiding a continued losing skid after back-to-back losses against Esparza and Brazilian striker, Marina Rodriguez, Xiaonan, the current number two ranked contender had racked up wins over both Dern, and the above-mentioned Andrade to likely earn her first title siege since beginning her Octagon stint back in November 2017.

With five fights remaining on her newly-inked UFC contract, Xiaonan, as mentioned earlier, is available as short as even money to draw Weili in a title affair in the pair’s native China on December 9. – with the Octagon gearing up for a return to Asia. 

17-3 as a professional, technical striker, Xiaonan, who has racked up eight career knockout wins in the process, took home notable victories over the likes of Kailin Curran, Viviane Pereira, Angela Hill, as well as former title challenges, Karolina Kowalkiewicz, and Claudia Gadelha before faltering for the first time in the Octagon. 

Who wins: Zhang Weili or Yan Xiaonan?

Video: UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili picks up 300+ pound NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal

Zhang WeiliReigning UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili may come in a small package, but she packs a big punch and plenty of power. Fresh off her dominant unanimous decision victory over Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 in August, Zhang showed off some of that iconic strength by lifting up 7’1? and 325-pound NBA Hall of […]

Zhang Weili

Reigning UFC strawweight world champion Zhang Weili may come in a small package, but she packs a big punch and plenty of power.

Fresh off her dominant unanimous decision victory over Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 in August, Zhang showed off some of that iconic strength by lifting up 7’1″ and 325-pound NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal in a clip, which you can see below, courtesy of Parry Punch on X.

It’s not the first time Zhang Weili has shown off her strength by picking up someone more than twice her size. Last year, a video of ‘Magnum’ raising former UFC heavyweight world champion Francis Ngannou off the ground in a similar fashion went viral.

What’s Next for Zhang Weili?

After suffering back-to-back losses against ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas in 2021, Zhang Weili bounced back with three straight wins kicked off by a stunning second-round knockout against Joanna J?drzejczyk in a rematch of their 2020 classic. From there, ‘Magnum’ reclaimed the strawweight title with a rear-naked choke submission of two-time titleholder Carla Esparza at UFC 281.

With her decisive five-round performance against Amanda Lemos, Zhang improved her record to 8-2 inside the Octagon and 24-3 overall.

What comes next for ‘Magnum’ is yet to be determined, but the likeliest options have her competing against fellow countrywoman Yan Xiaonan or undefeated Covina, California native Tatiana Suarez.

“She’s good,” Zhang said of Suarez during the UFC 292 post-fight press event. “She’s undefeated. She’s a very good fighter. I think she can be a potential challenger next.”

Who would you like to see Zhang compete against in her next strawweight title defense?

UFC 292 fighter salaries: Zhang Weili nets more than both Sean O’Malley, Aljamain Sterling in title defense

UFC 292 fighter salary Zhang Weili tops list ahead of Sean O'Malley and Aljamain SterlingA disclosed list of fighter pay salaries for this month’s UFC 292 pay-per-view event at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts has been released, with undisputed strawweight champion, Zhang Weili netting more than both newly-minted bantamweight best, Sean O’Malley, and former gold holder, Aljamain Stelring.  Co-headlining the flagship event in ‘Bean Town’, Chinese gold holder, […]

UFC 292 fighter salary Zhang Weili tops list ahead of Sean O'Malley and Aljamain Sterling

A disclosed list of fighter pay salaries for this month’s UFC 292 pay-per-view event at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts has been released, with undisputed strawweight champion, Zhang Weili netting more than both newly-minted bantamweight best, Sean O’Malley, and former gold holder, Aljamain Stelring. 

Co-headlining the flagship event in ‘Bean Town’, Chinese gold holder, Zhang Weili successfully defended the strawweight crown for the first time as part of her second title reign – landing a one-sided unanimous decision win over surging Brazilian challenger, Amanda Lemos.

In the night’s main event, Dana White’s Contender Series alum, O’Malley minted himself as the undisputed bantamweight champion with a spectacular second round win over the defending, Sterling – landing a series of hammering ground strikes to turn in a second round TKO win.

And despite the hugely-backed O’Malley’s champonship-clinching win, the Montana native missed out on the top spot for disclosed salaries at UFC 292, with Hebei native, Weili topping the charts.

Zhang Weili tops the disclosed fighter salary list for her title defense at UFC 292

Below, check out the full list of disclosed salaries from UFC 292, made available by the Massachusetts Officie of Public Safety and Inspections, upon request from MMA Fighting.

Sean O’Malley ($500,000 + no win bonus) vs. Aljamain Sterling ($500,000)

Zhang Weili ($520,000 + no win bonus) vs. Amanda Lemos ($250,000)

Ian Machado Garry ($50,000 + $50,000 win bonus) vs. Neil Magny ($134,000)

Mario Bautista ($43,000 + $43,000) vs. Da’Mon Blackshear ($27,000)

Marlon Vera ($155,000 + $155,000) vs. Pedro Munhoz ($150,000)

Brad Tavares ($100,000 + $100,000) vs. Chris Weidman ($426,000)

Gregory Rodrigues ($50,000 + $50,000) vs. Denis Tiuliulin ($14,000)

Kurt Holobaugh ($15,000 + $15,000) vs. Austin Hubbard ($32,000)

Brad Katona ($32,000 + $32,000) vs. Cody Gibson ($15,000)

Andre Petroski ($18,000 + $18,000) vs. Gerald Meerschaert ($100,000)

Natalia Silva ($40,000 + $40,000) vs. Andrea Lee ($70,000)

Karine Silva ($14,000 vs. $14,000) vs. Maryna Moroz ($50,000)

Zhang Weili welcomes title fight with Tatiana Suarez after UFC 292 victory: ‘She can be a challenger next’

Zhang Weili welcomes title fight with Tatiana Suarez after UFC 292 she could be nextSuccessfully defending her undisputed strawweight championship over the course of last weekend in the co-main event of UFC 292, Chinese favorite, Zhang Weili has welcomed the possibility of a showdown against unbeaten grappler, Tatiana Suarez next.  Co-headlining last Saturday’s pay-per-view return to the TD Garden, Hebei native, Weili turned in her first successful title defense […]

Zhang Weili welcomes title fight with Tatiana Suarez after UFC 292 she could be next

Successfully defending her undisputed strawweight championship over the course of last weekend in the co-main event of UFC 292, Chinese favorite, Zhang Weili has welcomed the possibility of a showdown against unbeaten grappler, Tatiana Suarez next. 

Co-headlining last Saturday’s pay-per-view return to the TD Garden, Hebei native, Weili turned in her first successful title defense of her second strawweight title reign, knocking back Brazilian contender, Amanda Lemos over the course of five rounds in a relatively dominant unanimous decision (50-43, 50-44, 49-45) win over the surging Belem native.

Moving to 24-3 as a professional, Weili, who has struck undisputed strawweight gold for the second time back in November of last year, laid waste to inaugural division champion, Carla Esparza with a stunning second round rear-naked choke win.

Zhang Weili welcomes title defense against Tatiana Suarez next

And with a host of strawweight talent laying in the wings awaiting a title fight with Weili, the Chinese all-rounder has welcomed the prospect of sharing the Octagon with undefeated Ultimate Fighter winner, Suarez next.

“She’s good,” Zhang Weili told assembled media of Tatiana Suarez following UFC 292. “She’s undefeated. She’s a very good fighter. I think she can be a potentially challenger next.”

“I started my training camp this time since March, so I left my home for a couple months – such a long time,” Zhang Weili explained. “The only thing in my mind right now is just returning to home together with my family.” 

Improving her undefeated record to 10-0 this year following her return from an over three year layoff, Californian grappling ace, Suarez returned with a guillotine choke win over Montana De La Rosa back in February, before submitting former champions and common-foe, Jessica Andrade with the same choke at UFC Nashville just earlier this month. 

Would you like to see Zhang Weili fight Tatiana Suarez in her next UFC outing?

Twitter Reacts to Zhang Weili’s dominant victory over Amanda Lemos at UFC 292: ‘She is an animal’

Zhang Weili Amanda Lemos UFC 292Zhang Weili made quite the impact at UFC 292 with her dominant performance over Amanda Lemos. The media, fans, and even fellow fighters didn’t hesitate to give her props, which led to an extreme amount of tweets on Saturday night praising Zhang’s fantastic efforts. Despite the smothering offense of Zhang, Lemos would not give up […]

Zhang Weili Amanda Lemos UFC 292

Zhang Weili made quite the impact at UFC 292 with her dominant performance over Amanda Lemos. The media, fans, and even fellow fighters didn’t hesitate to give her props, which led to an extreme amount of tweets on Saturday night praising Zhang’s fantastic efforts.

Despite the smothering offense of Zhang, Lemos would not give up and was fully prepared to give Zhang five rounds of war. While Lemos had her moments, it was pretty apparent that the Chinese superstar Zhang was taking every round. Her grappling prowess would shine against the Brazillian and Lemos was hard-pressed to keep things standing. Even on the feet though, Zhang would prove to be more advanced. The Chinese superstar outstruck Lemos 50-23 at a distance, and in total: 296-24.

It was truly a standout performance by Zhang Weili, and the world didn’t hesitate a second before singing her praises on social media platforms like Twitter.

Twitter reacts to Zhang Weili’s impressive performance at UFC 292

“Weili completely dominated every round,” fellow fighter Tracy Cortez would say.

“Amazing fight by the champion Zhang Weili,” Casey Oneill tweeted.

“50-45 Weili for me. Some of those coulda been 10-8’s, I just didn’t go there myself,” Jillian DeCoursey would state. She was speaking on the fact that one of the judges ultimately chose to give Amanda Lemos a round. This was a fact that was met with pure mockery by the MMA world, as virtually everybody is of the opinion that Zhang Weili won every round.

In fact, Ben Askren was of the same opinion. After the judges’ decision was read, Askren would take to Twitter and demand answers for what he viewed as atrocious judging.

“Which one of these idiot judges gave Lemos a round???” Askren demanded. In the comments, many fans declared Zhang should’ve won 5-0, but there was a slight percentage of people that believed it was at least debatable that Zhang lost the fourth round to Lemos. Regardless, it was still a clean-cut victory for the Chinese champion, and one she can be proud of for a long time.

Do you think Amanda Lemos won round four in her match with Zhang Weili at UFC 292?