Zhang Weili of China celebrates after defeating Carla Esparza to reclaim the women's strawweight champion in New York, the United States, on Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
Chinese fighter Zhang Weili dominated again as she reclaimed her UFC strawweight champion by defeating two-time title holder Carla Esparza.
NEW YORK, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Zhang Weili reclaimed her UFC strawweight champion on Saturday night at the Madison Square Garden in New York City by defeating two-time title holder Carla Esparza.
"I have many ways to finish the fight, submission is only one of them," Zhang said after becoming the third UFC female fighter to regain the strawweight belt.
"Today is my dream come true," zhang said.
Zhang Weili (bottom) of China locked on a rear-naked choke, defeating Carla Esparza of the United States for the women's strawweight title at the UFC 281 in Madison Square Garden in New York, the United States, Nov. 12, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
Zhang stopped the two-time title holder Esparza by submission by a rear-naked choke at 1:05 of Round 2 when a takedown by Esparza led to a reversal by Zhang. The former champion took Esparza's back and sunk in the fight-ending submission.
Zhang became the first Asian to win the UFC title in 2019. Losing her belt to Rose Namajunas in 2021, Zhang struggled back this year with a knockout over Joanna Jedrzejczyk in June. ■
