Weili Zhang News
Carla Esparza on Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili 2: 'I got next'
Drake Riggs - September 7, 2021
Carla Esparza feels she’s done enough to earn a UFC title shot. Unfortunately for the inaugural strawweight champion, the UFC has gone in a different direction. At UFC 268 on Nov. 6 in Madison Square Garden, Esparza will have to watch the immediate title rematch pitting new two-time champion Rose Namajunas against Zhang Weili in the co-main event.
Rose Namajunas vs Zhang Weili rematch opening odds show no clear favorite
Drake Riggs - September 6, 2021
Rose Namajunas and Zhang Weili are set to collide once more. With the fight now official for UFC 268 on Nov. 6 in New York City at the world-famous Madison Square Garden, opening odds for the strawweight title rematch have been released.
Zhang Weili to train in Arizona with Henry Cejudo and Patricio Pitbull ahead of UFC 268
Drake Riggs - September 2, 2021
Zhang Weili is changing things up ahead of her next fight. ESPN has confirmed with one of Zhang’s coaches, Pedro Jordao, that the first and only Chinese champion in UFC history will be doing things differently in her big rebound training camp.
Two title fights made official for UFC 268 including Rose Namajunas vs Weili Zhang 2
Chris Taylor - August 28, 2021
Two title fights are now official for November’s UFC 268 event, including a women’s strawweight rematch between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Namajunas (10-4 MMA) and Zhang (21-2 MMA) originally collided at April’s UFC 261 event, with ‘Thug Rose’ walking away a nasty first round finish (see that here).
Weili Zhang explains how Chris Weidman’s leg injury factored into her performance against Rose Namajunas at UFC 261
Adam D Martin - August 17, 2021
Former UFC champion Weili Zhang explained how Chris Weidman’s leg injury factored into her performance against Rose Namajunas at UFC 261. Zhang was starched with a high kick in the first round of her first UFC women’s strawweight title defense in the co-main event of UFC 261. It was a quick and brutal ending to Zhang’s short-lived reign as the champion, but according to “Magnum,” there are more reasons why she lost than just Namajunas being the better fighter that night. According to Zhang in a recent interview in the documentary “My Bronze Age,” she lost focus on her fight with Namajunas because, just two fights earlier, Weidman snapped his leg against Uriah Hall. According to the former champ, she couldn’t remain focused after that incident.
Zhang Weili praises Rose Namajunas after internal battles, 'She's the champ, just like a god'
Drake Riggs - July 28, 2021
Zhang Weili is making it clear that she has accepted her first loss since her debut — but not without first overcoming the pain that came with it. The UFC’s first Chinese champion is currently in the middle of having a mini-documentary release where she’s gone into great detail about some moments in her career — including her most recent fight.
Zhang Weili shares that she's begun training for next fight, 'Champion Rose is very strong'
Drake Riggs - June 15, 2021
Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is already getting back to work for her return to action. China’s Zhang (21-2) suffered defeat to Rose Namajunas in her last time out at UFC 261 in April. She recently took to Instagram to hint at a potential rematch on the horizon as she begins training for her next fight.
Beneil Dariush says Zhang Weili has 'terrible excuse' for Rose Namajunas loss
Drake Riggs - May 20, 2021
Zhang Weili and Beneil Dariush had mixed results in their most recent outings. However, they both were on the receiving end of negative crowd reactions. Dariush now finds himself sitting at the No. 3 ranked contender spot at lightweight after a dominant win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 262 this past weekend. The event was the second for the UFC to host a full crowd since the global pandemic.
Zhang Weili details hostile Jacksonville territory and struggles landing Rose Namajunas fight
Drake Riggs - May 10, 2021
The build-up to the big strawweight title clash between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas culminated with some political integration. However, it was just a struggle to make the fight happen in the first place. Now the former champion, China’s Zhang (21-2) hadn’t fought in over a year before the Namajunas encounter in Jacksonville, Florida at UFC 261. “Magnum” ultimately found herself in enemy territory when once again making the walk.
UFC Owner calls Zhang Weili 'Li Na' when discussing promotion going public
Drake Riggs - April 29, 2021
China’s first-ever UFC champion was the strawweight division’s Zhang Weili (21-2). After performing in the UFC 261 co-main event, the promotion’s owner, Ari Emanuel, didn’t appear to know who she was. On Thursday, the UFC went public as an organization. To discuss the news, Emanuel got in front of the cameras for a change just days removed from the huge UFC 261 event in Jacksonville, Florida.
Valentina Shevchenko open to fighting Weili Zhang at 125lbs
Adam Martin - April 28, 2021
UFC women’s flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko says she is open to fighting former women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang at 125lbs. Shevchenko had another extraordinary performance in the Octagon this past Saturday night at UFC 261 when she defeated Jessica Andrade via second-round TKO for her seventh straight win at 125lbs. Shevchenko has been absolutely running through everyone in her path in the flyweight division, and after beating Zhang, it’s hard to say who will be next.
What's next for the stars of UFC 261?
Cole Shelton - April 26, 2021
The UFC returned to a full capacity crowd on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida for UFC 261. The card saw three title fights as Kamaru Usman rematched Jorge Masvidal, Weili Zhang took on Rose Namajunas, and Valentina Shevchenko battled Jessica Andrade. The event was one of the better ones in recent memory and one title ended up changing hands. In the main event, Usman defended his belt with a second-round KO over Masvidal. Namajunas became the strawweight champ with a first-round KO over Zhang, and to no surprise, Shevchenko defended her strap with a TKO win over Andrade.
Francis Ngannou sends message of support to Weili Zhang following UFC 261 title loss to Rose Namajunas
Adam D Martin - April 26, 2021
UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou sent a message of support to Weili Zhang following her UFC 261 title loss to Rose Namajunas. Zhang lost her belt to Namajunas when she suffered a first-round head kick KO loss at UFC 261. It was a tough night at the office for Zhang, who was fighting for the first time in over a year since her split decision win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk. While she was able to go the full 25 minutes that night, this fight was not the same as Zhang was put out quickly in the first round. It was a tough loss for the Chinese champion, but knowing Zhang, she will be back at the gym Monday morning and getting ready to make another run for the belt.
Rose Namajunas releases statement following head kick KO win over Weili Zhang at UFC 261
Adam Martin - April 25, 2021
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas issued a statement following her head kick KO win over Weili Zhang at UFC 261. Namajunas entered the UFC 261 co-main event as a considerable betting underdog, but she showed that the odds were wrong and she was being overlooked with a brutal head kick KO just over a minute into the fight. For Namajunas, it was a successful opportunity to win back the women’s 115lbs belt that she lost to Jessica Andrade in Brazil two years ago by taking out Zhang and snapping her 20-fight win streak. It was an incredible upset on a night that saw a number of underdogs walk away with the win in Jacksonville, Florida.
Weili Zhang issues statement following title loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 261
Christopher Taylor - April 25, 2021
Weili Zhang has issued a statement following her title loss to Rose Namajunas at tonight’s UFC 261 event in Jacksonville, Florida. Zhang (21-2 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout had captured the promotions 115-pound title with a first round TKO victory over Jessica Andrade back in August of 2019.
Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts after Rose Namajunas KO's Weili Zhang at UFC 261
Chris Taylor - April 24, 2021
Former UFC strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk was clearly watching tonight’s UFC 261 co-main event between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA) is of course familiar with both Rose and Weili, having suffered two previous losses to Namajunas, this before her most recent setback to Zhang.
UFC 261 Results: Rose Namajunas KO's Weili Zhang (Video)
Chris Taylor - April 24, 2021
Tonight’s UFC 261 event is co-headlined by a strawweight title fight featuring reigning champion Weili Zhang taking on former title holder Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-1 MMA) will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout had captured the promotions 115-pound title with a first round TKO victory over Jessica Andrade in August of 2019.
UFC 261: 'Usman vs. Masvidal 2' Live Results and Highlights
Chris Taylor - April 23, 2021
The Octagon returns to Jacksonville for tonight’s UFC 261: ‘Usman vs. Masvidal 2’ event, a thirteen-bout fight card that features three title fights. Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal originally met last July at UFC 251, where ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ won a clear-cut decision, but ‘Gamebred’ took the fight on six days notice.