The TakedownCan Zhang Weili rise above the noise at UFC 261? Chinese champ may be kept waiting for her moment in the sun

Strawweight queen deserves way more credit ahead of her second title defence against ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas

Zhang can increase her star power with a convincing win, but could easily end up being overshadowed by the Jorge Masvidal show

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Zhang Weili celebrates after a successful first UFC strawweight title defence against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Photo: AP

Published: 8:00pm, 26 Mar 2021Updated: 8:00pm, 26 Mar 2021

UFC 261 was supposed to be Zhang Weili’s moment in the sun.

A quick trip down memory lane takes us back to UFC 248. It’s March 7 and the coronavirus pandemic is just beginning to sweep over the world. The NBA and NHL are mere days away from shutting down, and things are about to change dramatically like they have never before.

Before that reality sank in, the UFC got one last normal fight with fans in, at T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The main event – Israel “The Last Stylebender” Adesanya versus Yoel Romero – was an absolute snoozefest. But before that letdown of a title fight, mixed martial arts fans were treated to one of the greatest UFC bouts off all-time.

Zhang went toe-to-toe with Joanna Jedrzejczyk over five earth-shattering rounds for the women’s strawweight belt. The Chinese fighter won by split decision, but in all fairness, everyone won: the fans, both fighters, and the UFC. Zhang and “JJ” threw a remarkable amount of significant strikes at each other, and both seemed content to throw any sort of defensive strategy out the window. It was an instant classic, and fittingly won fight of the year honours.

White praised both fighters and declared Zhang was on the precipice of superstardom in the UFC. Of course, we all know what happened next, as Covid-19 wiped clean any chance the 30-year-old “Magnum” had of capitalising on her new-found fame.