UFC: Dana White appears to confirm Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk – ‘this is going to be fun’
- UFC strawweight champion hits back at ‘very angry’ Jedrzejczyk and vows to ‘calm her down’
- Zhang ‘ready now’ for title defence after former champion rips her in Post interview
UFC president Dana White has appeared to let slip who strawweight champion Zhang Weili will make her first title defence against.
“Anywhere, anytime … Bangkok, Sri Lanka, Warsaw, Toronto, it doesn't matter where. For me, it doesn't matter. I will make my way. Even if we have to take a canoe, I will make it to China and beat the s*** out of her,” Jedrzejczyk told the Post.
Zhang (professional record 20-1) – who is the UFC’s first Chinese champion – responded by telling Poland’s Jedrzejczyk (16-3) to call her management or White himself.
“She seems very angry? Don’t worry she will calm down. I am ready now. Call my manager. I am ready,” Zhang said in an Instagram post.
White reposted Zhang’s response with the caption, “This is going to be a VERY fun fight!!!!” suggesting the bout is in the works for 2020.
UFC: Joanna would ‘take canoe to China’ to beat up Zhang Weili
The 30-year-old Zhang shot to stardom after winning the strawweight belt off Brazil’s Jessica Andrade via first-round TKO in August. She is on a 19-fight win streak, with four consecutive wins in the UFC.
There had been several other names in the frame for Zhang’s first title defence, including former champion Rose Namajunas and a rematch with Andrade.
Jedrzejczyk was twice beaten by Namajunas, but made notable successful title defences against Andrade, Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Claudia Gadelha.
The Pole is 2–3 in her last five UFC fights but her latest win over Michelle Waterson in October has thrust her back into strawweight title contention.
