It’s been 9 months since Zhang Weili turned a two-time strawweight champion with a lopsided win over Carla Esparza, so she’s positively anxious to get again to work at UFC 292.
On Saturday, Weili faces Amanda Lemos within the co-main occasion of Saturday’s pay-per-view with the Brazilian contender getting her first shot at gold following back-to-back victories over Marina Rodriguez and Michelle Waterson.
Whereas it appeared there have been a number of choices for Zhang’s first title protection — together with Yan Xiaonan after she dispatched Jessica Andrade and Mackenzie Dern in her previous two appearances — it seems the struggle was Lemos was already within the works for fairly a while.
“I’m not stunned about this matchup in any respect,” Zhang defined. “As a result of we began engaged on this struggle very early, sooner than Yan’s [most recent] struggle, so since my final struggle and Lemos beat Marina [Rodriguez], we simply began engaged on this struggle.
“We have been simply engaged on some particulars just like the date and site, however we began engaged on this struggle sooner than Yan [beat] Jessica Andrade [in May].”
Lemos has largely flown beneath the radar as a menace to the strawweight title regardless of a strong resume that features a 7-1 total report in her previous eight UFC fights.
As deserving as Lemos could also be, there’s been quite a lot of chatter about Yan doubtlessly getting the subsequent title shot, dealing with off with Zhang of their native China. The UFC has made an aggressive push into the nation lately, constructing a brand new UFC Efficiency Institute and beginning a developmental sequence known as Street to the UFC. The subsequent Street occasion is scheduled for a similar weekend as UFC Singapore, which takes place Aug. 26.
It’s arduous to disregard Zhang vs. Yan as a significant attraction in China, however the reigning UFC strawweight champion isn’t fascinated by what might occur sooner or later.
“Let’s see what occurs on this struggle,” she mentioned when requested about Yan. “Now I’m solely specializing in this struggle on this Saturday. That is what I’m specializing in proper now.”
Zhang had principally the identical factor to say when requested about Tatiana Suarez, who’s arguably the opposite high contender within the division after she submitted Andrade at UFC Nashville to enhance her undefeated report to 10-0 total.
“All the highest 5 fighters in my division may be my potential opponents,” Zhang mentioned. “I believe it’s doable [I could fight Tatiana Suarez].”
Whereas all people else could also be enthusiastic about what comes subsequent, Zhang isn’t considering any future till she will get by Lemos at UFC 292.
Lemos has been speaking a tricky sport throughout struggle week, touting her superiority in each grappling and putting. That’s a problem Zhang gladly accepts.
“Lemos is sweet,” Zhang mentioned. “I admit she’s an excellent fighter, and he or she’s very aggressive. Her combating model, she is a tough hitter, a tough kicker, she has knockout energy however so do I.”
In terms of her personal sport plan, Zhang isn’t essentially freely giving any secrets and techniques, however she’s additionally apparently taking inspiration from a well-known quote by martial arts legend Bruce Lee as she seeks to get the job finished in opposition to Lemos.
“What I need to showcase extra on this struggle is to struggle like water,” Zhang mentioned. “I can struggle very flowing, easy and shapeless. I may be water and simply wrap her up. Even when she makes any tiny mistake, I can catch it and end her.”
