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Jonathan White

UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili has shed some light on what’s next for her, as rumours of a fight with “Thug” Rose Namajunas grow louder by the day.
Talking on a Weibo Live for Open English on Thursday night, in which she spoke in English throughout, the 31-year-old Hebei native was clear as to what her next career target was: herself.
“Joanna [Jedrzejczyk] used to be my target before I defeated her,” Zhang said of beating the Polish former champion in Las Vegas at UFC 248 in March.
“So what’s next? Defending my title? No. This is my basic duty as a professional athlete. My biggest target is myself.



 

 
 


 
   
    

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A post shared by Weili Zhang 张伟丽 (@zhangweilimma)



“I need to be more focused in studying martial arts than before. I need to learn and mix different techniques into MMA.”
Zhang has been pictured in the gym with her coaches, with UFC boss Dana White reposting one video of her dishing out punishing body shots. She has also been working on other styles, she told fans.
Zhang vs Yan fight would see UFC put China in a chokehold
“For example, recently I’ve been training Chinese wrestling. There are many moves in Chinese wrestling that take advantage in grappling situations, use the weight between you and your opponent to win.
“This is a valuable skill for my future fights. I still have to spend more time to improve my skills,” she said.
However, Zhang noted that sometimes her perceived strengths can actually be a weakness.


“Joanna once spoke highly of my well-rounded fighting style and power but knowing too much sometimes is my weakness.
“With too many skills it is hard for me to be flexible. I have to do subtraction in my skills. To use the most suitable one in a situation is a long process which often needs practice and thinking.”
Zhang’s bout against Jedrzejczyk was one for the annals and spoken of as a Fight of the Year contender at the time – that has not changed in the months since.
UFC star Zhang’s growing influence sees her top athlete on ‘Forbes’ China Celebrity List
The Chinese fighter spoke of her motivation going in to the biggest fight of her career.
“She used to be the champion and my goal was to win the championship belt so she became my imaginary opponent," Zhang said.
“I watched her every fight and studied her moves with my coaches but she didn’t know me at first and maybe looked down on me a little.



 

 
 


 
   
    

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A post shared by Weili Zhang 张伟丽 (@zhangweilimma)



“She was like, ‘Zhang Weili? Who is that?’ But it actually never affected me. Instead it motivated me to train even harder and make sure she remembers my name. When I became the UFC champion Joanna wanted to fight me.
“On the night of the fight, huge posters of me and Joanna were on the hotel all over Las Vegas. I felt the weight of becoming one of the few Asian athletes in a main event.
“It was a difficult match and we both fought very hard. After the fight we did our physical check at the same hospital and I heard her crying. Even though there was a great tension between us before the fight, she still told me that night, ‘Defend the title, it will get harder and I’ll watch you. Good luck’.
“It was at that moment that I realised you could only win the respect from others when you prove yourself.”


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Martial arts

‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas? China’s UFC champ Zhang Weili’s next target is herself

UFC women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili of China punches former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland during UFC 248 in March. Photo: AP

Zhang Weili vs Yan Xiaonan fight would see UFC put China in a chokehold

UFC women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili of China awaits former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland at UFC 248 in Las Vegas. Photo: AP

UFC: China’s Yan Xiaonan sees title shot on the horizon – once she gets past Claudia Gadelha

China’s Yan Xiaonan celebrates one of her victories. Photo: Handout

Yan Xiaonan is now 4-0 in the UFC. Photo: Twitter

Yan Xiaonan throws a kick at Syuri Kondo.

Yan 'Fury' Xiaonan celebrates a win in China.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - FEBRUARY 23: (R-L) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Karolina Kowalkiewicz of Poland in their strawweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event at Spark Arena on February 23, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC star Zhang Weili top athlete on ‘Forbes’ China Celebrity List

China’s Weili Zhang lands a punch on Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in March. Photo: AP

China’s Weili Zhang (left) aims a kick at Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk during UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas in March. Photo: AP

‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas says she began game-planning for Zhang Weili fight in hospital after UFC 251

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 on Fight Island, Abu Dhabi. Photo: Instagram/Rose Namajunas

UFC 251: Dana White lauds ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas after suffering black eye in Jessica Andrade war

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas poses after her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 at Fight Island, Abu Dhabi in July. Photo: Instagram / Rose Namajunas

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


‘Defending my title is my basic duty as a professional athlete,’ star tells fans as she works on Chinese wrestling
Being unknown was motivation for her Fight of the Year contender against Joanna Jedrzejczyk in March



Zhang Weili tells fans ‘defending my title is my basic duty as a professional athlete’, as rumours grow of match-up with Rose Namajunas next year.


Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)