UFC AND CHINA HAVE A NEW STAR AS ZHANG WEILI MAKES HISTORY

In just 42 amazing and blistering seconds, China’s Zhang Weili made UFC history by dethroning the champion Jessica Andrade in front of her home fans in Shanzhen, China. In doing so, she has become the new UFC featherweight champion and China’s first ever UFC champion.

First of all, you have to give respect to the former champion Jessica Andrade, who won the title in her home country of Brazil when she knocked out Rose Namajunas with a vicious slam.

In the build up, at the first press conference to announce this title fight, Dana White explained nobody wanted to fight Zhang, who was on a 19 fight winning streak. However, when they called Andrade, she accepted the fight and stated she would defend her belt in China.

Andrade herself was on a four fight winning streak and you would be hard pressed to find another fighter, male or female who had a better last four fight resume.

Her last four wins came against Claudia Gadelha. Tecia Torres. Karolina Kowalkiewicz and Rose Namajunas. The last two wins came in spectacular knockout fashion. So when the fight was announced, with Weili already on a 19 fight winning streak, it was absolutely two of the current best fighters in the division going head to head for the belt.

As quickly as the fight started, it ended. For what its worth, it was exciting for as long as it lasted. Both fighters came out like warriors. Neither wanting to take a back step. Zhang started the sharper with a few kicks and jabs. Andrade returned in typically fashion by walking forward and looking for her trade mark hooks.

Weili stayed in the pocked and decided to trade with Andrade. Both fighters started to swing, Andrade caught Zhang first, then Zhang returned and caught Andrade with a left hook that made Andrade stumble forward. Weili then backed up into the fence as Andrade fell forward and unleashed some elbows to the side and maybe back of the head.

As the ref warned her, she then transitioned quickly to a Mauy Thai clinch and started to deliver some devastating knee’s to the head and stomach. This visibly did damage and to my surprise, you could see they hurt Andrade as she began to slump.

Obviously Zhang noticed and felt this and pilled on the pressure, with punches which made Andrade retreat from once side of the octagon to another. Zhang knew this was her chance and went in for the kill. She rushed forward, swinging punches and caught Andrade on the retreat with a right hood that sent her to the floor.

Zhang jumped on Andrade and landed two more left hooks to the face, forcing the referee to stop the fight, cementing Weili Zhang’s name in UFC history as the new strawweight champion and the first Chinese UFC title holder in history.

It really was a superb and awe inspiring victory for Zhang who was a picture of confidence and composure throughout. She believed all along she would be champion but I am sure not even she envisioned to do it in such a dominating and spectacular fashion.

Although she will have time to revel in and enjoy this monumental victory. Naturally, the UFC and fans of the UFC will already be turning their attentions to her first defence. I’m sure many in the strawweight division would have sat up and took notice of Zhang’s performance.

None more so than the fighters who will be fighting in Tampa, Florida on October 12th, Michelle Waterson and Joanna Jedrzejczyk. Some say this could be a title eliminator.

I would say it t could be for Waterson who has won her last three fights, howeve, Jedrzejczyk has lost three of her last four so even if she beats Waterson, some may protest to her getting a title shot.

If that happens, someone who could protest the loudest is the former champion Rose Namajunas, providing she is still in the fight game. Rose travelled to the lions den in Brazil to defend her title and was winning the fight against Andrade before she was knocked out by the slam. So arguably she is still due for a title shot as many champions do get rematch or a second shot after losing the title.

Another who will throw their name in for a title shot would be former TUF winner Tatiana Suarez. Since winning the ultimate fighter in 2013, she is now on a five fight winning streak and her last fight was a tough unanimous points win over the no3 ranked Nina Ansaroff, so unless the UFC are thinking about matching her up with Rose Namajunus who is ranked no2, she really hasnt got anywhere to go but for the title.

Regardless of what the UFC decide to do for Zhang Weili’s first title defence, whoever they choose, they will be in for a real tough task to wrestle the title of this now national treasure. Zhang Weili’s win is huge for the continent of Asia which ultimately will be huge in a marketing sense for the UFC who will make huge inroads into a market that has been dominated by One Championship fighting.

Either way, whoever is next for Zhang Weili, will be in for a real fight. Zhang seems strong everywhere, she has punching power, a decent chin, a solid ground game with some superb submissions off her back.

She has not gone five round yet but I have seen her do three rounds twice and looked very comfortable. So it’s fair to say that the new UFC women’s strawweight champion could well be hear to stay. Good luck to whoever is next!