SINGAPORE – Zhang Weili thinks Rose Namajunas was too overcautious against Carla Esparza – and that’s what cost her.
Namajunas (11-5 MMA, 9-4 UFC) lost her strawweight title to Esparza at UFC 274 by split decision in a lackluster affair over 25 minutes.
Although Weili’s two title fight losses against Namajunas were more action-packed, the former champion thinks Namajunas played it too safe against Esparza.
“I feel definitely Rose is (under) a lot of pressure when she steps into the octagon,” Weili told MMA Junkie and other reporters at a UFC 275 pre-fight news conference. “Definitely, she wanted to take care of her belt and didn’t want to fight hard (and) fight everything out, but wanted to fight more strategically and more easily against Carla. But as a champion or an MMA fighter, you shouldn’t think about that. In the fight you should (put) your everything into the octagon and fight your heart out, so I don’t think Rose should fight with an attitude like that.”
Weili (21-3 MMA, 5-2 UFC) meets Joanna Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA, 10-4 UFC) Saturday at UFC 275, a rematch from their “Fight of the Year” barnburner at UFC 248. Earlier this week, Dana White confirmed the winner of Weili and Jedrzejczyk will fight for the title. Weili vows a fight with Esparza would be an exciting one.
“I feel really happy and excited if I can fight Carla,” Weili said. “I think the matchup with me and Carla will be very different… no matter striking or on the ground, we will fight a lot. It’s about bringing the exciting fights to the fans, so I’m really looking forward to it.”
UFC 275 takes place Saturday at Singapore Indoor Stadium in Singapore. The main card airs on pay-per-view following prelims on ESPN2 and ESPN+.
