A pivotal women’s strawweight fight took place this past Saturday at UFC on ESPN+ 19, and a former champion emerged as a No. 1 contender.
Former 115-pound champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk put on a patented striking clinic against Michelle Waterson en route to a unanimous decision win and staked her claim for a title shot.
But current titleholder Weili Zhang isn’t too keen on a potential fight with Jedrzejczyk, who she claims has turned down fights with her on numerous occasions in the past.
Speaking to “TMZ”, Zhang (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) said she doesn’t think Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC), who has dropped three of her past five, has the same appeal as she did when she was dominating the division.
“Joanna – I don’t think she’s the fighter she used to be,” Zhang said. “She’s nothing conditional to what she used to be. I’m not very interested.”
With the tables turned now, Zhang doesn’t think Jedrzejczyk gets to call the shots anymore and is seeking other options for her next fight.
“Definitely, she needs me more than I need her, and she’s struggling in the division to fight me. But I don’t know if I will give her the chance,” Zhang said. “I want to fight the best. I think maybe Rose (Namajunas) is also a good choice.”
Zhang captured the title in August in her home country of China when she ran through Jessica Andrade with a first-round TKO. Despite having not attempted to defend her strap yet, she continues to express interest in moving up a weight class to take on flyweight champ Valentina Shevchenko.
“If I had the chance, I’d like to move up to the weight class and fight the best, and right now Valentina is one of the best,” Zhang said.
Weili Zhang not interested in Joanna Jedrzejczyk: 'I don't think she's the fighter she used to be'