Advertisement
The Takedown | UFC: Zhang Weili could face crucial call over permanent move to US, win or lose against Rose Namajunas
- Zhang has moved her fight camp to Arizona for Namajunas rematch as Covid-19 continues to cause logistical problems for training in China
- Former strawweight champ might consider following lead of Israel Adesanya and City Kickboxing stars, who could potentially uproot their lives from New Zealand
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
To say Zhang Weili’s career is at an inflection point would be an understatement.
The last time China’s first UFC champion had back-to-back losses was … well, never. Her second career defeat came in her most recent fight, against “Thug” Rose Namajunas in April at UFC 261, when the American delivered a devastating first-round head kick to claim the strawweight title.
Namajunas pulled a sleight of hand and caught “Magnum” – and the whole fight world – completely off guard in the process. Zhang had no idea what had hit her, stumbling to her feet and protesting the stoppage after referee Keith Peterson stepped in to wave it off.
Advertisement
The first loss of Zhang’s career? That was her first professional MMA fight in 2013 against compatriot Meng Bo.
Advertisement
Zhang then went on a ferocious tear of 21 straight wins, five of them in the UFC, capped by her stunning 42-second TKO against Jessica Andrade to win the title, and then her split decision thriller against Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248 in the consensus best fight of 2020.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x