Weili Wants Esparza In Abu Dhabi

According to its official website, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) will be staging the upcoming UFC 281 pay-per-view (PPV) event on Sat., Oct. 22, 2022 at Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

That location serves as neutral territory for ex-strawweight champion and Chinese national Zhang Weili, who looks to reclaim her crown by toppling newly-minted titleholder (and American representative) Carla Esparza.

“I want to fight with Carla in Abu Dhabi because I know there’s a fight there in October,” Weili told reporters through a translator at the UFC 275 post-fight press conference (watch it here). “I think Carla is a special fighter 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. It’s fair for both of us.”

Weili (22-3) punched her ticket back to a 115-pound title fight by popping and dropping former champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk on the UFC 275 main card last weekend in Singapore (highlights here), her first victory since going 0-2 opposite ex-champion Rose Namajunas.

“I think there’s no weak fighter in the top rankings,” Weili continued. “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.”

Esparza has yet to comment on Weili’s callout.