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Jonathan White

It has been the question on the lips of many mixed martial arts fans since last March: who will UFC strawweight champion Zhang “Magnum” Weili fight next?
Chinese superstar Zhang (21-1) cemented her legacy with that epic win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4) at UFC 248 in Las Vegas, a 25-minute classic that has rightly been declared fight of the year by media outlets and the World MMA Awards.
“I’m happy that many people enjoyed the battle and I look forward to returning to the Octagon soon,” Zhang told the UFC’s official website in December.
Now, with 2021 here, who does Zhang get in there with next?


Zhang’s coach Pedro Jordao said there would be movement early in the year but so far a fight announcement has not been forthcoming.
In fact, there has only been more confusion as to who will challenge the champion.
Forget ‘Thug’ Rose Namajunas – UFC champ Zhang’s next target is ‘herself’
Rose Namajunas
“Thug” Rose Namajunas (10-4) has been described as “the fight to make” by UFC supremo Dana White, but the boss also told BT Sport the former champ was reticent, a claim denied by her and her camp.
That was most recently refuted by manager Brian Butler-Au this week in an interview with MMA Junkie.

“We’re still in talks with the UFC about Rose, but I can tell you that Rose is ready. She’s been in camp. Rose can fight on a couple of weeks’ notice. She’s ready to go. So we have to see.
“It could be Rose, it could be Carla [Esparza], it could be whoever. We’ll see.”
Zhang’s trip to the US to fight Jedrzejczyk was an ordeal, Butler-Au said, and the pandemic might yet have an impact on her travel options.

“Weili has been ready to go for some time now. The only hesitancy is – her last fight, I don’t know if everybody knows the full details on everything that happened.
“For her to even get to that fight was trails and trails. To avoid the Covid, they flew her to Thailand. Then Thailand started to lock down, so they flew her to Abu Dhabi. She was travelling for the last third of that camp.”
Namajunas earned her title opportunity, in many eyes, by grinding out a split decision against Jessica Andrade (21-8) at UFC 251 last July, exacting her revenge after the Brazilian had taken her title with a second-round head-slam KO in May 2019.

Jessica Andrade
It was Andrade whom Zhang demolished in 40 seconds to win the belt at the historic UFC Fight Night in Shenzhen on August 31, 2019, becoming the first Chinese champ in the promotion’s history.
Then her loss to Namajunas on Fight Island in Abu Dhabi made it back-to-back defeats for “Bate Estaca”.

But the 29-year-old Brazilian rebounded by moving to flyweight to beat former challenger Katlyn Chookagian (15-4) with an impressive first-round TKO, which has put her in the frame for a title shot against Valentina Shevchenko (19-3).
“I told Dana [White], I told the UFC that right now I’m floating, I’ll be wherever they need me,” Andrade told MMA Fighting last month.
“If I win the flyweight title, I definitely want a chance to fight for the [strawweight] belt with Zhang Weili again and maybe become a two-division champion.”

Carla Esparza
American former champ Carla Esparza (18-6) is seemingly front and centre to face Zhang if the Namajunas match-up can’t be made. The 33-year-old “Cookie Monster” – who was crowned the UFC’s first strawweight champ when she beat Namajunas in 2014 – is on a four-win streak and ranked No 4 in the division.
“Obviously, the fight to make is Rose, so hopefully we can get that fight done,” UFC president White told The Schmo in December. “If not, the next in line would probably be Carla Esparza.”

Yan Xiaonan
This fight would bring China to a standstill and make the rest of the UFC world sit up and take notice of the rising talent in the country.
Yan Xiaonan (13-1) has made it clear she is up to the task, declaring that a title fight with Zhang would be “big in China” before her last bout, a win over Claudia Gadelha (18-5) by unanimous decision on November 8.

“Fury” pushed it further after the win. “I think I’m one win away from getting a title shot from Dana White,” she said.
“I think I’m faster than her so I can beat her. I think about this a lot, about how to beat her. Because we are both Chinese I think I know how to fight her better than everyone else, and I know how to beat her.”
A fight with Yan would have one thing in its favour, namely not having to get either fighter out of China to compete in the US – though that would also mean China opening up to allow the UFC in to stage an event.


Joanna Jedrzejczyk
The rematch would be a great draw for fans but the Pole has poured cold water on it.
Jedrzejczyk, who made a four-week trip to Florida to train with American Top Team last month, told SCMP MMA she does not see herself returning to the Octagon until fans can.

She also noted Namajunas is next in line for Zhang. “I really believe Rose will be the next challenger for the strawweight title,” Jedrzejczyk said.
“All respect to Carla Esparza – she made it to the league, she was the champ – but I feel like the top four in the strawweight division is different. Rose is next.”
We will see in the coming months if Jedrzejczyk is right when Zhang’s next fight is confirmed.


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Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)

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)

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Israel Adesanya celebrates after retaining his middleweight title at UFC 248. Photo: Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC

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(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 06, 2019, Robert Whittaker of Australia (L) punches Israel Adesanya of New Zealand (R) during the middleweight title bout of the UFC 243 fight night in Melbourne. - Former middleweight champion Robert Whittaker, who flirted with retirement just months ago, has promised fireworks inside the cage July 26, 2020, as the Ultimate Fighting Championship ends its stay on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi. Number one-ranked Whittaker will face the fifth-ranked Englishman Darren Till in July 26's UFC Fight Night 174 main event. (Photo by ASANKA BRENDON RATNAYAKE / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 27: (R-L) Israel Adesanya of Nigeria kicks Paulo Costa of Brazil in their middleweight championship bout during UFC 253 inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on September 27, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

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Joanna Jedrzejczyk at the American Top Team gym in Florida. Photo: Instagram

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - SEPTEMBER 27: (L-R) Jan Blachowicz of Poland punches Dominick Reyes in their light heavyweight championship bout during UFC 253 inside Flash Forum on UFC Fight Island on September 27, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC)

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Joanna Jedrzejczyk touches her forehead during her five-round war with Zhang Weili. Photo: AFP

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 07: Weili Zhang takes a punch form Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a Zhang split decision win at T-Mobile Arena on March 07, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP == FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

July 12, 2020; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Rose Namajunas punches 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

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 ==

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Martial Arts

Mixed Martial Arts


Confusion remains over who will be next for ‘Magnum’ after Fight of the Year win vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk last March
Former champ Rose Namajunas favourite but plenty of other top contenders in the mix for title shot against Chinese superstar



Confusion remains over who will be UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili’s next opponent, with plenty of top contenders in the mix for a title shot.


The five fighters UFC strawweight champ Zhang Weili could face next

Confusion remains over who will be next for ‘Magnum’ after Fight of the Year win vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk last March Former champ Rose Namajunas favourite but plenty of other top contenders in the mix for title shot against Chinese superstar

Confusion remains over who will be next for ‘Magnum’ after Fight of the Year win vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk last March

Former champ Rose Namajunas favourite but plenty of other top contenders in the mix for title shot against Chinese superstar