UFC 261: Zhang Weili confirmed to fight Rose Namajunas on April 24 in strawweight title clash
- China’s champion finally gets a date set for her second title defence, against another strawweight great
- ‘Already there you have Fight of the Year potential. It will be explosive,’ says Hall of Famer Michael Bisping
The deal has finally been signed and sealed and very soon China’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili will hope to deliver another title defence when she faces the American former champ Rose Namajunas on the UFC 261 card set down for April 24.
The UFC confirmed the clash between Zhang (21-1) and Namajunas (9-4) out of Las Vegas on International Women‘s Day.
UFC 261 now features four groundbreaking and inspirational female fighters at the top of the card, with the flyweight title bout between the Kyrgyzstani champion Valentina Shevchenko (20-3) and the No 1-ranked Brazilian Jessica Andrade (21-8) having earlier being confirmed.
While reactions for all those involved are pending, Zhang has previously spoken to SCMP MMA about the role she sees herself playing in the sport – and in life.
“If watching me and what I do can motivate girls, and give them the power to chase their dreams, then this would be my major achievement, that would be super-positive,” she said.