UFC: Joe Rogan says Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk proves ‘MMA is not a game’
- ‘Those two women fought for their lives,’ UFC commentator says two years on from classic bout, with rematch in works according to Dana White
- ‘You leave a piece of yourself in the Octagon when you go through something like they did,’ former champ Bisping says – ‘you don’t play that sport’
Long-time UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s classic is a perfect example of what sets MMA apart from other sports.
Zhang and Jedrzejczyk met at UFC 248 two years ago on March 7, 2020, just days before the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the world.
China’s Zhang was the strawweight champion at the time, while her Polish foe was looking to reclaim the title after losing it to Rose Namajunas in 2017. The bout, which Zhang won via hard-fought decision, is still regarded as one of the best in MMA history.
Rogan reminisced about Zhang and Jedrzejczyk’s all-time classic on a recent episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, alongside former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. He pointed to the fight as an example that “MMA is not a game”.
“Zhang Weili versus Joanna Jedrzejczyk, remember that [expletive] fight?” the long-time UFC commentator said. “Jesus. Chaos. Oh my God. When that fight was over, that wasn’t a game. Those two women fought for their lives. They emptied everything they had out into that Octagon. It needs so much more respect than any other sport.
“It’s not like the guy didn’t guard the goalposts well enough. It’s not like a guy dropped the ball on the infield. It’s different.”
Bisping, who went through similar wars of attrition with Anderson Silva, Dan Henderson, and Yoshihiro Akiyama, was in complete agreement with Rogan.
“Fights like that, you only have so many of those in you – only so many wars,” the former champion said. “You leave a piece of yourself in the Octagon when you go through something like they did: five rounds of absolute war.
“Did you see the state of Joanna’s head after?” he added, recalling the gruesome hematoma Jedrzejczyk sustained in the bout. “You don’t play that sport.
“They talk about motivation in fights: my primary motivation is not to get the [expletive] kicked out of me on international television.”
UFC eyeing rematch between Zhang Weili, Joanna Jedrzejczyk
A lot has changed since Zhang and Jedrzejczyk, now 32 and 34 respectively, collided in the Octagon in 2020.
Zhang (21-3) lost the title to Namajunas, then failed to reclaim it in an immediate rematch, losing a split decision. Jedrzejczyk (16-4), meanwhile, has not fought since, and lost her spot in the UFC’s crowded strawweight top 15 as a result of her inactivity.
Jedrzejczyk had a seat inside the host T-Mobile Arena for the fights, and told the assembled press beforehand that she has fight news coming.
