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Set to defend against Suarez
Zhang will defend her UFC Strawweight Championship in the co-main event of UFC 312 on Feb. 8, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
Zhang is close to clearing out the division, as she has two successful title defenses since regaining the belt against Carla Esparza in 2022 -- both coming via decision. She'll now take on Suarez, who is widely regarded as one of the top fighters in the division but has had to overcome multiple knee surgeries and a recent withdrawal to get here. Zhang has an edge in striking volume and can likely offer more diverse attacks while on the feet, while Suarez will look to employ a wrestling-heavy approach. That could be an issue for Zhang, who sports a sub-par takedown defense rate of 50 percent.
Zhang is close to clearing out the division, as she has two successful title defenses since regaining the belt against Carla Esparza in 2022 -- both coming via decision. She'll now take on Suarez, who is widely regarded as one of the top fighters in the division but has had to overcome multiple knee surgeries and a recent withdrawal to get here. Zhang has an edge in striking volume and can likely offer more diverse attacks while on the feet, while Suarez will look to employ a wrestling-heavy approach. That could be an issue for Zhang, who sports a sub-par takedown defense rate of 50 percent.
Digs deep to retain UFC gold
Zhang successfully defended her UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Yan Xiaonan via unanimous decision (45-49, 45-49, 45-49) at UFC 300 in Las Vegas.
ANALYSIS
This ended up a rout, but got very hairy for Zhang in the middle rounds. The champion appeared to have this fight won on multiple occasions early on. She choked Yan out cold at the very end of Round 1, but the latter was saved by the bell. She then flattened Yan out in Round 2. Referee Jason Herzog probably should have pulled the plug at some point, but didn't, and Yan survived the frame. Zhang appeared exhausted afterwards, before finding her form again in the championship rounds to cruise to the decision win. This fight was far, far closer than Zhang's 256-73 edge in total strikes and six successful takedowns would lead you to believe. She's won four in a row, including two successful title defenses, since back-to-back losses to Rose Namajunas back in 2021.
This ended up a rout, but got very hairy for Zhang in the middle rounds. The champion appeared to have this fight won on multiple occasions early on. She choked Yan out cold at the very end of Round 1, but the latter was saved by the bell. She then flattened Yan out in Round 2. Referee Jason Herzog probably should have pulled the plug at some point, but didn't, and Yan survived the frame. Zhang appeared exhausted afterwards, before finding her form again in the championship rounds to cruise to the decision win. This fight was far, far closer than Zhang's 256-73 edge in total strikes and six successful takedowns would lead you to believe. She's won four in a row, including two successful title defenses, since back-to-back losses to Rose Namajunas back in 2021.
Defending title versus Xiaonan
Weili is scheduled to defend her UFC Strawweight Championship belt against Yan Xiaonan at UFC 300 in Las Vegas on April 13, Marcel Dorff of Eurosport.nl reports.
ANALYSIS
After losing back-to-back fights against Rose Namajunas in 2021, Weili responded by winning three straight UFC fights, reclaiming her strawweight title in the process. Weili successfully defended her title in an extremely one-sided victory over Amanda Lemos in August, and she'll now look to fend off Xiaonan, who has won two straight fights.
After losing back-to-back fights against Rose Namajunas in 2021, Weili responded by winning three straight UFC fights, reclaiming her strawweight title in the process. Weili successfully defended her title in an extremely one-sided victory over Amanda Lemos in August, and she'll now look to fend off Xiaonan, who has won two straight fights.
Breaks records in title defense
Weili defeated Amanda Lemos via unanimous decision (50-43, 50-44, 49-45) at UFC 292 on Saturday in Boston.
ANALYSIS
Weili's performance here will likely hold up as one of the most one-sided title defenses in UFC history. The strawweight champion landed the most strikes ever in a woman's UFC fight (296), taking down Lemos almost at will and dominating her on the ground. It wasn't long ago that Weili was soundly out-grappled by Rose Namajunas in a title fight, but it looks like the Chinese fighter has rounded out her game, as she defended submission attempts from her opponent while almost simultaneously moving to more advantageous positions on the ground. Lemos came into this bout with a takedown defense rate north of 80 percent, but it didn't matter to Weili, who showcased her superiority in every facet of the fight. The aforementioned losses to Namajunas will likely hang over her head until she is able to get "Thug Rose" back in the cage, but for now, Weili must be seen as the most dominant force in the strawweight division. She'll also take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for her efforts here.
Weili's performance here will likely hold up as one of the most one-sided title defenses in UFC history. The strawweight champion landed the most strikes ever in a woman's UFC fight (296), taking down Lemos almost at will and dominating her on the ground. It wasn't long ago that Weili was soundly out-grappled by Rose Namajunas in a title fight, but it looks like the Chinese fighter has rounded out her game, as she defended submission attempts from her opponent while almost simultaneously moving to more advantageous positions on the ground. Lemos came into this bout with a takedown defense rate north of 80 percent, but it didn't matter to Weili, who showcased her superiority in every facet of the fight. The aforementioned losses to Namajunas will likely hang over her head until she is able to get "Thug Rose" back in the cage, but for now, Weili must be seen as the most dominant force in the strawweight division. She'll also take home a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus for her efforts here.
Taking on Lemos
Weili will defend her UFC Strawweight Championship against Amanda Lemos at UFC 292 on August 19 in Boston, Shaheed Al-Shatti of MMAFighting.com reports Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
Weili's sheer dominance to this point in her career has been very impressive. She lost two consecutive UFC matches in 2021, but has since rebounded with two victories, most recently a win over Carla Esparza via a rear naked choke in the second round (to win back her title). She'll look to keep the winning ways going against Lemos, who is also coming off two straight victories and fighting for UFC gold for the first time.
Weili's sheer dominance to this point in her career has been very impressive. She lost two consecutive UFC matches in 2021, but has since rebounded with two victories, most recently a win over Carla Esparza via a rear naked choke in the second round (to win back her title). She'll look to keep the winning ways going against Lemos, who is also coming off two straight victories and fighting for UFC gold for the first time.