UFC returns to China: three Chinese fighters and the fights we’d love to see in Shenzhen
- American promotion returns for its third China date in August
- Last China event was held in Beijing in November 2018
It’s seemed such a long time coming but Monday’s announcement that the UFC is returning to China, with a Fight Night Shenzhen set for August 31, actually arrives only six months out from UFC Fight Night: Blaydes vs Ngannou 2 in Beijing.
That event was headlined by the heavyweight showdown between Curtis “Razor” Blaydes (11-2, one no contest) and Francis “The Predator” Ngannou (13-3) and ended after 45 seconds by a Ngannou thunderbolt. But the lion’s share of attention was focused on the locals, as you’d expect in a nation that boasts a population of around 1.4 billion people, and pretty close to all of them – it’s fair to say – come well schooled in the traditions and the history of martial arts.
What we saw in Beijing last December can be best described with one word: potential. Six Chinese fighters won on the night to leave the locals brimming with pride, and the future looking bright, especially given the UFC Performance Institute Shanghai opens sometime in June.
So August 31 will be another chance to showcase the local talent UFC currently has on its roster, and here are three local heroes we would like to see in action, and the match-ups that would raise the roof at the Universiade Sports Centre.
Zhang “Magnum” Weili (19-1) vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-3)
The 29-year-old Zhang was magnificent in Beijing, monstering one-time number one-ranked contender Jessica “Jag” Aguilar (20-8), ending the conversation with an armbar as the first came to a close and with the American already a spent force. In Vegas, in March, Zhang closed down and totally confused a resilient Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (10-4) with her power – and a few spinning fists. Guess what? Torres had also previously pushed Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade (20-6) over three intense rounds – and Andrade is the now UFC’s strawweight champ. The first ever Chinese fighter to be top-10 ranked (at six), Zhang has the true grit required to be a contender and Shenzhen would be another step towards a title shot. The fuse has already been lit with the ex-champ and now third-ranked Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-3), with the Chinese star telling the Polish fighter (via social media) “you can’t get past me” [and on to a title shot against the now champ Andrade]. Sparks would fly.