![]() "Every day since I lost my belt, every single night I would dream of this moment. "Today is like a dream come true," she said via a translator in her post-fight interview. Who do you want to see Zhang Weili defend her belt against next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below! And she was proud to win the belt again Stateside after initially taking the belt during a 2019 homecoming against Jessica Andrade Weili admitted she feels like a true part of the community in America now after receiving love throughout fight week despite facing a champion from the nation. ![]() And in the second she made that control count, getting her rival's back and finishing the fight with a rear naked choke to become a two-time champion in the division. It appeared Weili had the answers for Esparza's wrestling, managing to reverse her takedowns and take top position during most of their exchanges early. When the fight did get to the ground the former champion went for the submission and almost had it, but was unable to secure a first-round finish. The Chinese fighter, who was the strawweight champion once before, is popular with supporters and felt that as they made their voices heard at Madison Square Garden in New York.Įsparza appeared willing to exchange with Zhang early in the first round, but neither woman could get much off during the opening stanza. The American was unpopular despite being in her home country due to her grinding fight style, which is not as fan-friendly as Weili's more hard-hitting approach. I like Zhang, and I’m going to side with her in a finish to shave down the price.Carla Esparza lost her strawweight title as she suffered a second-round submission defeat by Zhang Weili at UFC 281. I’m not sure Esparza is going to be able to keep up with the relentless attack of her opponent. Zhang only knows one way, and that’s to push the pace, and it’s sure going to make Esparza uncomfortable. The difference here however is Zhang’s work rate against a more disciplined, a slower worker in Esparza. This will be Zhang’s second career fight in New York.Įsparza has a chance here if she can get this fight in the clinch or on the ground, slowing down Zhang and taking her out of her comfort zone a bit. Zhang has a killer instinct that you don’t see all the time on the woman’s side, and 18 of her 22 victories have been finishes. Zhang’s constant pressure, aggressive approach in her stand-up is where she unleashes combinations and a relentless gas tank. Zhang has a complete fighting style, as she has a background in kickboxing and is a purple belt in BJJ. The bout earned performance of the night honors, and Zhang has now produced 11 career knockouts. Zhang is coming off a knockout win at UFC 275 where she landed 94 total strikes and produced 3 takedowns. Zhang is averaging 2.09 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 34 percent. Zhang is averaging 5.78 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 47 percent. Zhang has won 11 of her last 13 fights, and she’s coming off a June win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk. This will be Esparza’s first career fight in New York. Esparza’s work rate can come and go, but she’s still managed to win 11 of her 14 career decisions, so she controls the fight well. When Esparza is able to get her hands on her opponent, she likes her chances to control the fight, and she’s produced 4 submissions. Esparza lands a good portion of her significant strikes on the ground, where she’s most comfortable. Esparza has a background in wrestling and is a brown belt in BJJ, so she’s often looking for the takedown where she can unleash effective ground and pound on the canvas or throw elbows and knees in the clinch. Esparza is enjoying her best stretch of her career and now looks for 7 straight wins for the first time. ![]() Esparza won the UFC Women's Strawweight Championship in the victory and has now seen 5 of her last 6 fights go the distance. Esparza is coming off a decision win at UFC 274 where she landed 30 total strikes and produced 2 takedowns. Esparza is averaging 3.25 takedowns with an accuracy percentage of 35 percent. Esparza is averaging 2.20 significant strikes per minute, with an accuracy percentage of 40 percent. Zhang enters this fight with a 22-3 record and has won 50 percent of her fights by knockout.Įsparza has won each of her last 6 fights and is coming off a May win over Rose Namajunas. Esparza enters this fight with a 19-6 record and has won 58 percent of her fights by decision. Carla Esparza and Weili Zhang fight Saturday in UFC 281 at the Madison Square Garden.
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