Chinese mixed martial arts star Zhang Weili celebrates after securing a second-round knockout win against Poland's Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 275 on June 12, 2022. (Photo courtesy of UFC/Xinhua)
Former UFC champion Zhang Weili is aiming for a clear victory against Carla Esparza at November's UFC 281.
BANGKOK, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- China's first UFC champion Zhang Weili said here on Sunday that she wants a clear title win against Carla Esparza at November's UFC 281.
Just as she did to Joanna Jedrzejczyk at June's UFC 275, Zhang is aiming for another clear victory against reigning champion Esparza on November 12 in the UFC 281 co-main event at Madison Square Garden in New York.
"Carla is a respectable rival. Her up and down experience is very inspiring and gives me power to keep going on," said Zhang.
Esparza was the first woman to win the UFC strawweight belt, but lost it in her first defending fight. More than seven years later, she came back with six straight wins to regain the title from Rose Namajunas.
This will be Zhang's second visit to Madison Square Garden. Zhang became the first Asian to win the UFC title in 2019. But last time in New York, she failed to win her belt back from Namajunas.
"The past is over. I won't make the same mistakes this time," said Zhang.
"Now I don't care about winning or losing anymore. Carla will be the first wrestler I have met, so I am very interested in the progress of exchanging all we have in our arsenals. My goal is to dominate the show," said Zhang.
Two more China's mixed martial arts fighters will step on UFC main events in the next two months. Bantamweight fighter Song Yadong will challenge American kickboxer Cory Sandhagen on September 17, while Yan Xiaonan will face American jiu jitsu black belt Mackenzie Dern on October 1.
"I am happy that more excellent fighters are joining us in the main show. I believe that it will not only benefit the fighters, but also benefit the entire MMA movement," said Zhang. ■
