bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Jonathan White

UFC boss Dana White wants strawweight champion Zhang Weili to fight Rose Namajunas “this year and in Asia”.
Speaking to the promotion’s broadcast partner ESPN, White moved to clear up the next step for the Chinese fighter, who has not fought since she beat Poland’s Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the Fight of the Year at UFC 248 last March.
White sparked confusion over a possible title fight with “Thug Rose”, claiming that the Lithuanian-American did not want to take the challenge, which her team denied.
Now it appears that Namajunas remains White’s first choice for Zhang’s next bout and at some point this year.


“We’re working on her, too,” White said of the strawweight champion. “Obviously, the fight everybody wants to see is her and Rose.
“Hopefully we can get that done. If not, the next one in line would probably be Carla Esparza. We’re looking to do that fight this year – and in Asia.”


Zhang won the title in China at UFC Fight Night 157 in Shenzhen in August 2019, when she beat Brazilian Jessica Andrade.
That was the UFC’s third event in the country following Shanghai in 2017 and Beijing a year later.
All UFC events in the US since May 2020 have been held in either Jacksonville, Florida, or their performance centre in Las Vegas, with the only fights outside the US held at “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi.
The five fighters UFC champ Zhang Weili could face next
It remains unclear where in Asia that White would like to hold Zhang’s next fight.


3 female action stars who ruled Hong Kong martial arts cinema alongside Michelle Yeoh

China’s Unitree teases platform allowing users to control robots through smartphones

Thrilling Bruce Lee dance show explores Hong Kong star’s life and career

International MMA body formed to unify amateur governance, target Olympic inclusion

Martial arts

UFC: Zhang Weili to fight Rose Namajunas ‘this year and in Asia,’ says Dana White

UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili before her fight with former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248. Photo: AP

‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas? China’s UFC champ Zhang Weili’s next target is herself

UFC women's strawweight champion Zhang Weili of China punches former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland during UFC 248 in March. Photo: AP

The five fighters UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili could face next

UFC women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili punches former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248. Photo: AP

Mixed martial artist Zhang Weili holds Tony Ferguson's baseball at the UFC 248 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Former UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas poses after her fight with Jessica Andrade at UFC 251 at Fight Island, Abu Dhabi in July. Photo: Instagram / Rose Namajunas

July 26, 2020; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Marina Rodriguez (blue gloves) of Brazil kicks Carla Esparza (red gloves) in their strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - OCTOBER 18:  (R-L) Jessica Andrade of Brazil takes down Katlyn Chookagian in their women's flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night event inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on October 18, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 07: (R-L) Yan Xiaonan of China punches Claudia Gadelha of Brazil in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

July 12, 2020; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Rose Namajunas celebrates after her split-decision victory over Jessica Andrade of Brazil in their strawweight fight during the UFC 251 event at Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on July 12, 2020 on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC via USA TODAY Sports

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 07: (R-L) Claudia Gadelha of Brazil punches Yan Xiaonan of China in a strawweight fight during the UFC Fight Night event at UFC APEX on November 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)

UFC women's strawweight champion Weili Zhang, right, of China, gets kicked by former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland during UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas Saturday, March 7, 2020.(Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

UFC: Zhang Weili’s ‘pivotal moment’ vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk caps breakout year for Chinese fighters

Zhang Weili faces off with Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the UFC 248 ceremonial weigh-ins. Photo: Amy Kaplan

Zhang Weili, left, connects with a punch to Joanna Jedrzejczyk during the second round of a women's strawweight UFC 248 mixed martial arts bout Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

Zhang Weili celebrates her win by decision over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in the women's strawweight championship mixed martial arts bout at UFC 248 on Saturday, March 7, 2020, in Las Vegas. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Neil Magny punches Li Jingliang to a unanimous win during UFC 248 at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 28: (R-L) Su Mudaerji of Tibet punches Malcolm Gordon in their flyweight bout during the UFC Fight Night at UFC APEX on November 28, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC)

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MAY 16: Song Yadong (R) of China fights Marlon Vera (L) of Ecuador in their Featherweight bout during UFC Fight Night at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on May 16, 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida. Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Sport

Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts

China


China’s strawweight champion has not fought since beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk in Fight of the Year last March
‘Thug Rose’ remains top choice with Carla Esparza next in line as fans await fight confirmation



China’s strawweight champion has not fought since beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk in Fight of the Year last March.


Sporting year in review 2020

Shenzhen

Florida