UFC 261: Zhang Weili dismisses Rose Namajunas’ comments on communism as a ‘joke’
- American challenger had referenced ‘better dead than red’ slogan in lead up to this weekend’s title clash
- ‘I saw them then I totally ignored them. Those kinds of comments make no sense,’ says China’s Zhang Weili
Chinese champion Zhang Weili has brushed aside controversial comments from her opponent Rose Namajunas in the lead-up to their strawweight tile clash at UFC 61 this weekend, labelling the American’s references to Cold War sloganeering as “a joke”.
“I saw them then I totally ignored them,” Zhang said of Namajunas’ remarks.
It was an issue fanned by social media reaction, mostly, but Zhang had until Tuesday kept her thoughts on the matter to herself.
“I believe as an athlete you have to focus on yourself, and those kinds of comments make no sense,” said the 31-year-old, via Zoom call from Florida. “I think it’s a joke.”
And that was that.
UFC 261: Rose Namajunas says China’s Zhang Weili ‘may be being told what to say’
Zhang said she had instead been focusing on things she can control, and that includes dealing with the fighter who will be standing in front of her when the cage door shuts inside the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena come Sunday morning (Asia time).
The 28-year-old Namajunas is a counterpunching and attacking genius, skills most memorably showcased when she sneaked in, and she landed a short-sharp left to the chin of Poland’s then-champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) to take the strawweight title at UFC 217 in 2017.
Give Namajunas an opening, no matter how small, and she’ll grab it, and Zhang said she had been preparing for those crafty counter moves.
“I believe Rose will fight the same way she has always fought,” she said. “So the first round will see her moving, and feinting, and jabbing. She will keep moving around. She won’t stay in the same spot to trade with me, or to clinch with me. She will want to keep moving around.
“But in Rose’s interviews she has said she will clinch with me and grapple with me to use her jiu jitsu skills. So we will all just have to wait and see how the fight will come.”
Jacksonville will be welcoming a full and live UFC crowd for the first time since last March, at UFC 248 event where Zhang went at it over five rounds with Jedrzejczyk, to retain her strawweight title via a split decision in a bout universally acknowledged as the Fight of the Year.
“I’m super excited that there will be a crowd,” said Zhang. “I love the feel from the crowd and all the reactions you get from the crowd. So I am really looking forward to the fight and to us putting on a show for the fans.”
Zhang’s message to those there in Jacksonville, and picking up the broadcast from around the world, was that they’ll see a new and improved version of the champion.
“I’m stronger, I’m faster and I have a deeper understanding of how to use my physical strength.”
