Zhang Weili
Magnum
China
No-shows title fight
Zhang failed in her quest to win the UFC Women's Flyweight Championship on Saturday, falling to Valentina Shevchenko via unanimous decision (45-50, 45-50, 45-50) at UFC 322 in New York City.
ANALYSIS
You're going to have to search long and hard to find a title fight that went the distance that was less competitive than this one. Making her flyweight debut after relinquishing her title at strawweight following a dominant run, Zhang was physically dominated from start to finish. She simply had zero answers for the brute force and overwhelming strength of the champion. Zhang gave up five takedowns on six attempts, good for 13:24 worth of control time. It's difficult to remember even one damaging strike landed of her 32 significant ones that connected. It wasn't for a lack of talent for Zhang, it was simply a lack of the requisite size and strength to compete at this division. What we saw tonight makes you think she would struggle against top contenders in the division like Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot, let alone a dominant champion like Shevchenko. Zhang was asked post-fight what her future plans are and said she had to think about it. A return to 115 pounds is by far the most likely result at age 36.
You're going to have to search long and hard to find a title fight that went the distance that was less competitive than this one. Making her flyweight debut after relinquishing her title at strawweight following a dominant run, Zhang was physically dominated from start to finish. She simply had zero answers for the brute force and overwhelming strength of the champion. Zhang gave up five takedowns on six attempts, good for 13:24 worth of control time. It's difficult to remember even one damaging strike landed of her 32 significant ones that connected. It wasn't for a lack of talent for Zhang, it was simply a lack of the requisite size and strength to compete at this division. What we saw tonight makes you think she would struggle against top contenders in the division like Erin Blanchfield and Manon Fiorot, let alone a dominant champion like Shevchenko. Zhang was asked post-fight what her future plans are and said she had to think about it. A return to 115 pounds is by far the most likely result at age 36.
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Bout set for UFC 322
Weili will fight Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 322 on Nov. 15 in New York City, Nolan King of USA Today reports.
ANALYSIS
Weili hasn't lost a bout since Nov. 6 of 2021 against Rose Namajunas. She'll set her sights on competing for flyweight gold against Shevchenko, who earned a victory against Manon Fiorot on May 10 at UFC 315.
Weili hasn't lost a bout since Nov. 6 of 2021 against Rose Namajunas. She'll set her sights on competing for flyweight gold against Shevchenko, who earned a victory against Manon Fiorot on May 10 at UFC 315.
Shines in easy title defense
Zhang successfully defended her UFC Women's Strawweight Championship on Saturday, defeating Tatiana Suarez via unanimous decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-45) at UFC 312 on Saturday in Sydney, Australia.
ANALYSIS
When we last saw Zhang last April, she was defeating Yan Xiaonan but struggling at times in the process. That led to her entering as a surprising +125 underdog here. Her response was to put forth one of her best performances to date. Facing an undefeated top-tier challenge in Suarez, Zhang allowed a Round 1 takedown and spent most of the frame on the bottom before dominating the rest of the way. It's almost as if she flipped a switch after the opening frame ended. Zhang totally controlled the stand-up exchanges between the two, closing with a 232-63 edge in total strikes landed. She also racked up 10:54 worth of control time despite landing just 1-of-3 takedown attempts. One would expect Zhang to be slowing down at age 35, but if tonight is any indication, she's only getting stronger.
When we last saw Zhang last April, she was defeating Yan Xiaonan but struggling at times in the process. That led to her entering as a surprising +125 underdog here. Her response was to put forth one of her best performances to date. Facing an undefeated top-tier challenge in Suarez, Zhang allowed a Round 1 takedown and spent most of the frame on the bottom before dominating the rest of the way. It's almost as if she flipped a switch after the opening frame ended. Zhang totally controlled the stand-up exchanges between the two, closing with a 232-63 edge in total strikes landed. She also racked up 10:54 worth of control time despite landing just 1-of-3 takedown attempts. One would expect Zhang to be slowing down at age 35, but if tonight is any indication, she's only getting stronger.
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.