Weili Zhang News
Weili Zhang scolds Rose Namajunas for her performance against Carla Esparza at UFC 274: “She wanted to take care of her belt and didn’t want to fight hard”
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2022
Weili Zhang has questioned Rose Namajunas’ performance against Carla Esparza in their UFC 274 title fight last month. If there’s one fighter Weili Zhang knows better than most, it’s Rose Namajunas. Across their two previous encounters, Namajunas was able to get the better of her foe with both a knockout win and a split decision triumph.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts after Dana White confirms she will receive a title shot with a win at UFC 275
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has reacted to the news that Dana White has confirmed the winner of her fight against Weili Zhang will receive a title shot. While she may have been away from the sport of mixed martial arts for two years, Joanna Jedrzejczyk hasn’t taken her eyes off of the prize. The Polish sensation was last seen just before the start of the pandemic in an absolute war with Weili Zhang, with many believing she did enough to win that fight – despite ultimately losing it on the scorecards.
Daniel Cormier shares his pick for the most athletically gifted female fighter in the UFC
Harry Kettle - June 9, 2022
Former UFC two-weight champion Daniel Cormier has given his thoughts on who the most athletically gifted female fighter is in the promotion. From his days as a UFC fighter to his current MMA analyst duties, Daniel Cormier has never been shy to speak his mind. He’s seen some of the best fighters of this or any other era come and go, and this Saturday at UFC 275, he’ll be watching closely as some of the finest athletes in the game gear up for one hell of a night in Singapore.
Weili Zhang hopes UFC 275 bout against Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be a more "exciting fight" than the first
Cole Shelton - June 7, 2022
Weili Zhang is hoping her UFC 275 rematch against Joanna Jedrzejczyk will be the most exciting fight of her career. Zhang and Jedrzejczyk fought back at UFC 248 in March of 2020, as ‘Magnum’ was looking to defend her strawweight title for the first time. The fight far exceeded expectations as it is arguably the greatest women’s fight of all time and one of the best fights of all time, period.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk open to five-round rematch with Weili Zhang if the money is right
Fernando Quiles Jr. - May 15, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk thinks going five rounds with Weili Zhang again is doable but she needs to see more green. Jedrzejczyk and Zhang are expected to collide on the UFC 275 PPV. The strawweight rematch is only scheduled for three rounds. This came as a disappointment to many fans as their March 2020 five-round banger is widely considered to be one of the greatest fights in MMA history.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk re-signs with UFC ahead of Weili Zhang rematch: "I want to retire in the UFC"
Josh Evanoff - April 28, 2022
Former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk will likely be spending the rest of her career in the UFC. The Polish fighter hasn’t competed since UFC 248 in March 2020. Her co-main event bout against Weili Zhang for the strawweight title went down as one of the greatest women’s fights ever. Jedrzejczyk wound up losing the bout via a close split decision.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk willing to move Zhang Weili rematch up to five rounds: “I’m willing to do 5 rounds for my fans”
Harry Kettle - April 27, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has revealed that she would be willing to fight Zhang Weili over five rounds instead of three at UFC 275. Throughout the course of their respective careers in mixed martial arts, both Joanna Jedrzejczyk and Zhang Weili have been involved in some incredible contests. Alas, neither has been able to replicate what they produced together at UFC 248 when they battled it out in a remarkable five-round war in Las Vegas.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk set to return for a rematch with Weili Zhang
Chris Taylor - April 9, 2022
Former UFC strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk is set to make her highly anticipated Octagon return in a rematch with Weili Zhang. That news comes courtesy of ESPN, who reported that Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-3 MMA) have verbally agreed to throw down at June’s UFC 275 event in Singapore.
Former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk says she was offered the winner of ‘Esparza vs. Namajunas 2’, but plans to rematch Weili Zhang
Susan Cox - January 4, 2022
Joanna Jedrzejczyk is aiming to return to MMA competition in 2022. In a recent interview on the ‘Kanal Sportowy Show’ in Poland, Joanna commented:
Zhang Weili reflects on fights with Rose Namajunas, feels 'enlightened' by experiences
Drake Riggs - November 30, 2021
The rivalry between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas has come to an end for the time being. UFC 268 kicked off the month of November and featured two big title fight rematches. In the evening’s co-main event, China’s first UFC champion in Zhang looked to get redemption opposite her successor from their UFC 261 meeting in April.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes Weili Zhang rematch could be her comeback fight
Adam D Martin - November 18, 2021
Former UFC women’s strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk believes that the Weili Zhang rematch could be her comeback fight. Joanna Jedrzejczyk has not fought since March 2020 when she fought 25 minutes to a narrow split decision defeat against Zhang at UFC 248. It was one of the best fights of last year, and many fans and observers believe it was the single greatest women’s MMA fight of all time. Ever since that fight, there have been calls for a potential rematch between the two. However, Jedrzejczyk has taken the past 18+ months off for a number of reasons. Zhang, meanwhile, has continued to stay active, losing twice to rival Rose Namajunas.
What's next for the stars of UFC 268?
Cole Shelton - November 8, 2021
The UFC returned to Madison Square Garden for the first time since November of 2019 for a stacked UFC 268 card. The event saw two titles on the line as Kamaru Usman was looking to defend his welterweight title in a rematch against Colby Covington. Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang were also running it back from their fight in April for the strawweight strap. UFC 268 ended up being one of the best cards in recent memory as in the main event, Usman edged out Covington in a super close fight. Namajunas, meanwhile, went up 2-0 on Zhang as she defended her belt with a split decision win. Now, after UFC 268, here’s what I think should be next for the four fighters involved in the title fights.
Rose Namajunas wants Carla Esparza next following win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - November 7, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas wants to fight Carla Esparza next following her big win over Weili Zhang at UFC 268. Namajunas edged out a split decision over Zhang in a razor-thin fight that served as the co-main event of UFC 268. It was another fantastic performance by Namajunas, who overcame a slow start to turn it on late and steal the decision on the judges’ scorecards. Namajunas is now 2-0 over Zhang and it seems unlikely that the UFC will run back an immediate trilogy fight, so it seems likely that Namajunas will get a new opponent next.
Rose Namajunas discusses the trash talking that was taking place during her rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - November 7, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight champ Rose Namajunas discussed the trash-talking that was taking place during her rematch with Zhang Weili at UFC 268. Namajunas and Zhang met in the co-main event of UFC 268 in what was a highly-anticipated rematch between the current 115lbs women’s champ and the former champion. These two previously met back at UFC 261 in April, and it was Namajunas who landed a perfect head kick on Zhang and finished her with strikes. The rematch this time around was a much closer fight as both women had their moments in the bout. But ultimately it was the judges who sided with Namajunas winning the fight unanimously.
Weili Zhang issues statement following split decision loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268
Adam D Martin - November 7, 2021
Weili Zhang issued a statement following her split decision loss to UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas at UFC 268. Zhang fought as hard as she could over the course of 25 minutes, but ultimately it was Namajunas who edged out a narrow split decision on the judges’ scorecards. For Zhang, it is her second straight defeat to Namajunas after losing via head kick KO earlier this year at UFC 261. This second fight was much closer, and some fans even thought that Zhang deserved to win, but ultimately it was Namajunas who edged out the split decision win.
Zhang Weili reacts following second straight loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 268
Christopher Taylor - November 7, 2021
Zhang Weili was hoping to reclaim the strawweight title when she squared off with Rose Namajunas tonight at Madison Square Garden. Zhang (21-2 MMA) and Namajunas (11-4 MMA) had originally clashed back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug’ emerging victorious by way of knockout.
UFC 268 Results: Rose Namajunas defeats Zhang Weili (Highlights)
Chris Taylor - November 6, 2021
Tonight’s UFC 268 event is co-headlined by a women’s strawweight title fight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Namajunas (10-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) initially squared off back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug’ emerging victorious by way of knockout.
Zhang Weili details intense training for UFC 268, including simulated boos and Henry Cejudo yelling "Go back to China!"
Christopher Taylor - November 6, 2021
Zhang Weili is looking to make a statement when she squares off with Rose Namajunas for a second time in tonight’s UFC 268 co-main event. Zhang (21-2 MMA) and Namajunas (10-4 MMA) originally collided back at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug Rose’ emerging victorious by way of first round knockout.