UFC 268: Zhang Weili splits from same management as Rose Namajunas; says American made fans boo her

China’s former strawweight champ thinks American invoking Cold War rhetoric was a deliberate tactic to turn crowd against her

Zhang says Namajunas ‘crossed the line’ using ‘better dead than red’ slogan, and by bringing politics into sport

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Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas shake hands at the UFC 261 weigh-in. Photo: Zuffa LLC

Published: 4:04pm, 7 Oct 2021Updated: 1:39pm, 8 Oct 2021

Zhang Weili kept quiet on Rose Namajunas invoking the Cold War slogan “better dead than red” and bashing communism in the build-up to – and immediate aftermath of – their strawweight title fight at UFC 261 in April.

But the gloves are finally off, it seems, ahead of their November 6 rematch at Madison Square Garden.

China’s first UFC champion (21-2) confirmed on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour she has split from SuckerPunch Entertainment, whose owner Brian Butler-Au looks after the Lithuanian-American “Thug” Namajunas (10-4).

“It’s just because he managed both me and Rose. I think it’s very difficult for him,” Zhang told Helwani, via translator.

The 32-year-old “Magnum” went on to criticise Namajunas – who claimed the belt from her with a stunning first-round head kick TKO – for what she perceived to be an effort to turn the Jacksonville, Florida fans against her.