Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/martial-arts/mixed-martial-arts/article/3077437/one-championship-zhang-weilis-only-conqueror
Martial Arts/ Mixed Martial Arts

One Championship: Zhang Weili’s only conqueror, Meng Bo, eyes a shot at Angela Lee

  • Meng talks her 2013 win against the future UFC champion, who has since gone on a 21-0 tear
  • Now in One Championship, Meng is looking to earn a crack at atomweight queen Angela Lee
China’s Meng Bo throws punches down on Laura Balin. Photos: One Championship

Meng Bo knows something that no one else in the history of professional mixed martial arts knows. She knows what it feels like to beat Zhang Weili.

As the world recovers from the epic that was Zhang’s first defence of her UFC strawweight title against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, we are left wondering what it might take to wrest the belt from a fighter who is on a 21-0 tear and who continues to answer every question asked of her, both inside the cage and out.

We went back to where it all began and we tracked down the now-23-year-old Meng who did something that now seems all the more remarkable – she handed “Magnum” her only pro loss to date, a two-round decision as the headline event of the CMMAL China MMA League event held on November 9, 2013 in the Chinese city of Xuchang in central Henan province. Meng was just 17 at the time.

“There are not so many memories about that fight since it was several years ago,” is Meng’s initial reaction, before she digs a little deeper. “But I remember she was a tough opponent and she deserved my respect.”

Since that night in Xuchang, Zhang has ripped her way through every opponent she has faced in the Chinese domestic leagues, before signing on with the UFC and doing pretty much the same there.

Against Jedrzejczyk – arguably the greatest female strawweight MMA has so far seen – the 30-year-old from Handan weathered every storm summoned by the Polish fighter. And she left her opponent looking battered and bereft.

Zhang’s rise has captured the imagination of the sporting world, and beyond, and Meng says she has been among the millions to have been thrilled by her compatriot’s story.

“I’m not really surprised about her rise because I know how hard she has worked,” says Meng. “You have pain then you gain. That’s like the same struggle and the same hard work every Chinese MMA athlete goes through.

“We have all suffered a lot and look what we have achieved today. For Weili, I wish her all the best and hope she keeps on defending that title.”

Meng Bo avoids a kick from Laura Balin.
Meng Bo avoids a kick from Laura Balin.

With the global fight game pretty much on hiatus given the spread of the coronavirus and the need to put any plans for large gatherings on hold, Meng has been tucked away with the Tiger Muay Thai crew in Phuket, Thailand, taking the utmost care – and training when she can, before returning home to Beijing this past week for a few weeks of isolation.

Meng’s first three bouts as a pro were against future UFC stars in Zhang and then Wu “Mulan” Yanan (11-3), before she worked her way to a 14-5 record.

She’s off to a 1-0 start with One Championship following her first-round knockout of Argentina’s Laura “La Gladiadora” Balin (11-6) in Beijing last November.

Meng Bo celebrates her victory against Laura Balin.
Meng Bo celebrates her victory against Laura Balin.

Since that night in Xuchang, Zhang has ripped her way through every opponent she has faced in the Chinese domestic leagues, before signing on with the UFC and doing pretty much the same there.

Against Jedrzejczyk – arguably the greatest female strawweight MMA has so far seen – the 30-year-old from Handan weathered every storm summoned by the Polish fighter. And she left her opponent looking battered and bereft.

Meng says she has closely watched the rise of Chinese fighters in the UFC and, let’s not forget, with One, which had Xiong “Panda” Jingnan (14-2) as its strawweight champ as far back as 2018. She’s keen to get in on the act.

“We are all trying to win honour for our country,” says Meng. “But I don’t need to gain confidence from fighting anyone specifically as I know my name will be at the top of the rankings sooner or later.

“I chose this sport because I love it and now it’s more like my duty for a lifetime. I feel like the sport chose me, too, and it’s the most important part of my life.”

Meng has a run of three first-round finishes going and has joined an atomweight division that’s rich with talent. She says she wants a crack at title-holder Angela “Unstoppable” Lee (10-2) – as soon as possible – but realises there’s a fast-growing queue there. No matter, she says, she’s happy to be part of the sport’s growth at home – and far beyond.

Meng Bo’s arm is raised in victory.
Meng Bo’s arm is raised in victory.

“My style is flexible, and I can adapt to the style of my opponent,” says Meng. “Most of the time I’m a striker, and my big weapon is always my boxing skills.

“But the whole world can now see how strong Chinese women’s MMA is and Weili is an example. We have got more and more girls joining the gym and competing for different promotions, and there will be more world champions than people could imagine. I believe in the near future the world will see China as one of the strongest MMA countries there is.”