UFC 275: Zhang Weili teases first-round KO of Joanna Jedrzejczyk – ‘I don’t want to fight for 15 minutes’
- Former champs will run back one of MMA’s greatest fights this Sunday in Singapore, with a strawweight title shot on the line
- ‘Fighting in Singapore is just like fighting in my country. Every time I fight in my home country, I got the first-round finish,’ Chinese star says
China’s Zhang Weili is forecasting a quick victory in her imminent rematch with Joanna Jedrzejczyk.
The two former strawweight champions are slated to collide on the main card of UFC 275 on Sunday morning in Singapore. Their first fight occurred in March, 2020, when Zhang defeated Jedrzejczyk by unanimous decision to defend the division’s throne. The fight, which left both women badly bruised and Jedrzejczyk with a massive hematoma on her forehead, was competitive from bell to bell, and is still considered one of the most entertaining bouts in MMA history.
But fans expecting another wild brawl this Sunday may be disappointed, as Zhang (21-3) believes she will finish her Polish rival in the rematch – and possibly quite quickly.
“I don’t think it will be three rounds, and I don’t want to fight for 15 minutes,” the 32-year-old Chinese star said at Wednesday’s pre-fight press conference.
“Fighting in Singapore is just like fighting in my country. Every time I fight in my home country, I got the first-round finish.”
Jedrzejczyk (16-4) unsurprisingly has a different forecast for the match-up. She believes she will leave the Octagon victorious, and conceded that a finish may not be possible.
“Of course I don’t want to leave it in the judges hands, but sometimes you don’t always get what you wish for,” the 34-year-old Polish striking specialist said. “I wish for knockout, I wish for submission, but it’s not that easy, especially at this level, where I’m at, and Weili Zhang. It’s going to be the toughest fight in my fighting career, but I’m ready.”