Last night, Zhang Weili retained her UFC strawweight title in a classic fight against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. The fight was the co-main event of UFC 248 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The former champion’s face told the story of the back and forth five-round rumble of two perfectly paired fighter’s. However, the judges saw it Zhang Weili’s way and the UFC’s first Chinese champion can now count a successful first title defense to her list of accomplishments.
Weili (21-1) and Jedrzejczyk (16-4) stood toe to toe for five rounds. They exchanged punches and kicks with neither backing down ever. Although the fight resulted in Weili winning by split decision, Joanna showed a champion’s heart and has the face to prove it.
Jedrzejczyk was unrecognizable from a hematoma that caused her entire forehead to swell. Think the Martin episode when Tommy “The Hitman” Hearns lumped him up and his face super-sized like a Mickey’s meal.
No, really!
“We are all martial artists here,” Weili said in the post-fight interview. “We want to set an example for the kids. Thank you, everyone.”
Not only did they set an example, but they also set the bar. The co-main event fight was light years better than the main event of Israel Adesanya vs. Yoel Romero.
Fighter’s in attendance like Paulo Costa was not impressed at all.
Even some of the undercard fights like Beneil Dariush’s crazy second-round KO over Drakkar Klose.
Also, Neil Magny’s relentless destruction of Li Jingliang that awarded him a unanimous decision.
UFC 248 delivered and if you don’t believe us just ask Iron Man.
P.S. We still love Joanna, the Polish former strawweight champion, big head and all. No someone cue Afro B’s Drogba to cheer her up!
