UFC 268: Zhang Weili sees Rose Namajunas rematch ‘like a war’ after UFC 261 TKO

Chinese fighter changes attitude from trying to ‘meet friends through martial arts’ after build-up to UFC 261 TKO

‘I think for the rematch, her psychological pressure might be greater than mine,’ says former strawweight champion

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Zhang Weili at her UFC women's strawweight title defence against former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland during UFC 248 in 2020. Photo: AP

Published: 10:00pm, 22 Sep 2021Updated: 12:14am, 23 Sep 2021

China’s top UFC fighter Zhang Weili (21-2) has described her rematch with “Thug” Rose Namajunas (11-4) as “like a war” in her first interview ahead of the fight at UFC 268 in New York on November 6.

“After the fight everybody was surprised by the result. Then Dana said there might be a rematch. The mentality I had before was to go there to learn from each other and meet friends through martial arts. I really felt like that,” Zhang told Chinese media.

“Then I went and found out it wasn‘t like that at all. So I think I need to take it really seriously now, see the fight like a war.

“Magnum” was knocked out in the first round of their April fight at UFC 261 in Florida, with the Lithuanian-American landing a kick to the face that sent the then-champion to the canvas.

The Chinese fighter immediately called for a rematch, which Dana White made official last month when he announced that the second part of Zhang-Namajunas would take place at Madison Square Garden in October.