SINGAPORE – Zhang Weili wants to her title fight to be in neutral territory.
The former UFC strawweight champion is expected to fight current title holder Carla Esparza following her win over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at Saturday’s UFC 275. Weili (22-3 MMA, 6-2 UFC) knocked out Jedrzejczyk in their rematch with a spinning backfist in the second round of their highly anticipated rematch.
And now as the next title challenger, Weili hopes to fight Esparza later this year but not in the U.S.
“I want fight with Carla in Abu Dhabi because I know there’s a fight there in October,” Weili told reporters through an interpreter at the UFC 275 post-fight news conference. “I think Carla is a special fighter, too, and I know that can be a really good fight. Also, for me and for her – not China or the U.S. So we can fight in another country, so it’s fair for both of us.”
As far as the challenge itself, Weili gives full credit to Esparza and won’t make the mistake of underestimating her. Weili knows she’ll need to level up ahead of her second attempt to reclaim gold.
“I think there’s no weak fighter in the top rankings,” Weili said. “So if I’m fighting Carla, I need to improve my grappling, my BJJ, my wrestling. There’s nothing I need to specially care for. I just need to improve myself. MMA is over all sports, so I don’t think we can have any disadvantage, so I want to be a well rounded fighter.”
Zhang Weili has idea for Carla Esparza UFC title fight she says is ‘fair for both of us’