Tag: Zhang Weili

Way-too-early top 10 MMA fighters of the 2020s

Israel Adesanya is among the fighters who could finish the 2020s as one of the decade’s best.

I’m sure you’ve checked out MMA Junkie’s countdown of our fighters of the decade for the 2010s and have your own opinion on who would have made your list and what order you would have listed them. Now, with a new decade upon us, it’s time to look forward and ponder which names might dominate the MMA landscape over the course of the next 10 years.

And that hugely important job of pugilistic prognosticator fell to yours truly as I pick up the baton and attempt to compile a list of fighters who could lead our fighters of the decade list from 2020-2029.

So here, in no particular order, are my 10 selections in this way-too-early list:

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Jon Jones

Jon Jones

Let’s not mess around here. [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] is the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, and there’s nobody on the horizon that’s likely to change that soon. And with Jones dominating the UFC’s light heavyweight division, a brand-new chapter could soon open up for “Bones” when he takes the plunge and moves up to heavyweight.

Skill-wise, there’s no doubt he has everything in his locker to be every bit as dominant at heavyweight as he currently is at 205 pounds, but there’s always that X-factor of heavyweight punching power. Jones tends to drag his opponents into deep water, but at heavyweight it only takes one shot to end your night.

To that end, at 32, Jones’ style has avoided taking damage for the bulk of his career. Heavyweights tend to last longer and peak later than other weight classes: Witness Daniel Cormier holding the UFC belt past age 40. Current champ Stipe Miocic is 37, and his first reign began when he beat a then-38-year-old Fabricio Werdum.

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The challenge that lies ahead for Jones is arguably the most fascinating – and dangerous – of his MMA career. And the matchups he’ll face over the course of the coming years will make for some of the most-watched fights of the decade.

He was our No. 1 fighter for the 2010s, and he’s my early-money favorite to finish the 2020s as not only MMA Junkie’s fighter of the decade once again, but also as the consensus greatest mixed martial artist that ever lived.

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Brutal body shots: Dana White impressed as Zhang Weili shows punching power ahead of UFC 248

UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang showcased her body punching power in her latest Instagram post and left UFC president Dana White suitably impressed.

The upcoming battle for the UFC women’s strawweight title between [autotag]Zhang Weili [/autotag] and [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] at UFC 248 is already one of the stand-out matchups of early 2020. And, if the Chinese UFC champion’s latest video is anything to go by, we could be set for an explosive encounter.

Weili (20-1, 4-0 UFC) posted a video to her Instagram page showing her hammering her coach with a barrage of vicious body shots. Eventually, “Magnum” landed one power punch too many as her coach, half-laughing, doubled over in pain.

The video was certainly enough to impress UFC president Dana White, who shared the clip to his 5.1 million followers on Twitter with the simple caption: “GOD DAAAAMN @MmaWeili”

Weili’s brutal body punching could shed a little light on how she plans to approach her upcoming clash with former champion Jedrzejczyk (16-3, 10-3 UFC). The Pole’s best work inside the octagon has come in the stand-up realm, with her breathless strike output and five-round gas tank taking her to five consecutive title defenses during her reign as the UFC’s 115-pound queen.

But now Weili sits at the top of the strawweight tree and, if this footage is anything to go by, she may be preparing to go toe to toe with Jedrzejczyk in Las Vegas.

The Blue Corner is MMA Junkie’s blog space. We don’t take it overly serious, and neither should you. If you come complaining to us that something you read here is not hard-hitting news, expect to have the previous sentence repeated in ALL CAPS.

Joanna Jedrzejczyk: Zhang Weili has ‘juicy’ punches, but ‘I will show her this Polish power very soon’

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is ready to stand toe to toe with Zhang Weili’s power.

LAS VEGAS – [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] is ready to stand toe to toe with UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]’s power punches.

Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC), the former 115-pound champ, will look to reclaim her title when she challenges Weili (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) on March 7 at UFC 248.

Weili captured the title in August by running right through Jessica Andrade with a barrage of power punches and taking her out in just 42 seconds. Jedrzejczyk is well aware of Weili’s power, but she’s confident that she will devise the right plan with her team for this fight.

“Every opponent is different, and she’s definitely very strong,” Jedrzejczyk said backstage this past weekend at UFC 245. “She’s young, very hungry, her punches are juicy, and I watch her fight two days ago with Mikey Brown because we – Mikey Brown is crazy about this fight. We’re going to have a good plan, but of course I will have to take this fight second by second. Like I said, she’s very dangerous, but I will show her this Polish power very soon.”

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Jedrzejczyk explained what she meant by Weili’s punches being “juicy,” referring to her strength and frame, which is relatively different to the taller and longer Jedrzejczyk.

“Juicy and crispy and, yeah, she’s wild. She’s wild. Definitely she’s wild,” Jedrzejczyk said. “She’s not that technical of a fighter, but she’s very strong. She’s big, she’s massive, so that’s why her punches are very juicy. I’m tall in the strawweight division, so I’m never going to be like bully person you know, like big person and very muscular.”

You can watch Jedrzejczyk’s full scrum with reporters in the video below.

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China’s Song Yadong sees UFC champ Zhang Weili beating Joanna Jedrzejczyk: ‘She has better striking technique’

UFC on ESPN 7’s Song Yadong sees women’s strawweight champion Zhang Weili beating former champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248.

WASHINGTON – [autotag]Song Yadong[/autotag] doesn’t think the UFC’s strawweight champion will lose her belt in her next title defense.

The Team Alpha Male fighter, who’s set to compete at Saturday’s UFC on ESPN 7 in Washington, D.C., against Cody Stamann, thinks Zhang Weili will defeat Joanna Jedrzejczyk in her first title defense, scheduled for UFC 248 in March.

It’s hard to deny that Weili is a threat to anyone competing at 115 pounds, but Yadong (14-3 MMA, 4-0 UFC) sees Weili being better on the feet than Jedrzejczyk, who’s known to be one of the best strikers in women’s MMA.

“I believe she’s going to win her next fight,” Yadong said at Thursday’s media day for UFC DC. “She is faster, stronger, and she has better striking technique compared to her opponent.”

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Yadong, who like Weili is also from China, says things have changed back home ever since Zhang was able to dethrone then-champion Jessica Andrade in August.

“After Weili got her UFC title, there is more interest in getting to know UFC and MMA,” Yadong said. “More people now know China has its own champion, so it was a big improvement for MMA in China after she won.”

For more from Yadong, check out the full video interview above.

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Duke Roufus to help train Zhang Weili for UFC strawweight title defense vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk

UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili will turn to one of MMA’s best coaches to close out training camp for her first title defense.

Duke Roufus will be joining forces with one of the UFC’s newest champions.

The head coach of Roufusport MMA in Milwaukee, Wis., Roufus announced via Instagram on Tuesday that he’ll be helping UFC strawweight champ [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] prepare for her first title defense against [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] at UFC 248, which takes place March 7.

Roufus said he’ll help the Chinese champion finish off her training camp at Roufusport so she can get acclimated to the U.S. before the fight.

Weili (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) is coming off a big knockout win over then-champion Jessica Andrade in August. She hasn’t lost since her pro debut, amassing a 20-fight winning streak.

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Meanwhile, Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) is ridding a two-fight winning streak at strawweight. She’s 2-3 in her last five bouts, all losses coming in championship fights against Rose Namajunas and Valentina Shevchenko.

Roufus is regarded as one of the best MMA coaches. Most notably he’s trained fighters such as Anthony and Sergio Pettis, Paul Felder, Maycee Barber, Ben Askren, and others.

Below is Roufus’ announcement:

View this post on Instagram

Martial Arts makes the World a better place & a smaller planet. I am excited to announce I will be assisting the @ufc Straw Weight Champion @zhangweilimma & her team for her Title Defense vs legendary Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk March 7 in Las Vegas. Thanks Coach @cai8005457 & the great people from China for the friendship. Weili will finish her training at @roufusport with her whole team to acclimate to the USA. Special thanks to our friend @tulsigabbard for helping Weili obtain her Visa to the USA. Thank you very much @suckerpunchent for creating this wonderful friendship & collaboration “The Shaolin & Rou-Tang Could be Dangerous” @wutangclan #martialarts is #life 🥋#weilizhang #zhangweili #tulsigabbard #usa #china #chinese #mma #chinesemma #sanda #kungfu #gungfu #wushu #ufc #ufc248 @roufusport #roufusportmma #roufusport #routangclan #positivevibes

A post shared by Duke Roufus Official (@coachdukeroufus) on

Martial Arts makes the World a better place & a smaller planet. I am excited to announce I will be assisting the @ufc Straw Weight Champion @zhangweilimma & her team for her Title Defense vs legendary Champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk March 7 in Las Vegas. Thanks Coach @cai8005457 & the great people from China for the friendship. Weili will finish her training at @roufusport with her whole team to acclimate to the USA. Special thanks to our friend @tulsigabbard for helping Weili obtain her Visa to the USA. Thank you very much @suckerpunchent for creating this wonderful friendship & collaboration “The Shaolin & Rou-Tang Could be Dangerous” @wutangclan #martialarts is #life 🥋#weilizhang #zhangweili #tulsigabbard #usa #china #chinese #mma #chinesemma #sanda #kungfu #gungfu #wushu #ufc #ufc248 @roufusport #roufusportmma #roufusport #routangclan #positivevibes

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Champ Zhang Weili, Joanna Jedrzejczyk agree to UFC 248 title fight

Former longtime strawweight champ Joanna Jedrzejczyk will have the chance to regain the title against Zhang Weili in March.

[autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag]’s first UFC strawweight title defense will come against the division’s most successful champion.

Former titleholder [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag] will attempt to regain the crown when she challenges Weili for the 115-pound belt at UFC 248, which takes place March 7 at a location to be determined.

MMA Junkie confirmed with multiple people close to the situation that the verbal agreements are in place for the matchup following an initial report from MMA Fighting. The people requested anonymity because the UFC has yet to make an official announcement.

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Weili (20-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC), the No. 1 fighter in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMA Junkie strawweight rankings, claimed UFC gold in August with a stunning first-round knockout of Jessica Andrade. The Chinese champ’s victory extended her winning streak to 20 consecutive fights dating back to April 2014.

No. 5 Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) will have her chance to regain the belt she lost to Rose Namajunas in November 2017. The Polish fighter has since dropped a rematch to Namajunas and a flyweight title fight against Valentina Shevchenko, but has picked up a pair of quality wins, as well, with the latest coming against Michelle Waterson at UFC on ESPN+ 19 in October.

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MMA Junkie Radio #3004: Jon Jones-Dominick Reyes reaction, Bellator London recap, more

Hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” break down the latest MMA news and notes, including the biggest fight booking of the week.

Monday’s edition of MMA Junkie Radio with hosts “Gorgeous” George and “Goze” is here!

On episode 3,004 of the podcast, the guys break down the latest MMA news and notes, as well as unpack Bellator Europe 6 from over the weekend in London.

The rundown

  • It’s official. [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] will defend his UFC light heavyweight title vs. [autotag]Dominick Reyes[/autotag] on Feb. 8 in Houston. Is Reyes ready for this massive challenge, or is it too soon?
  • With [autotag]Corey Anderson[/autotag] and [autotag]Jan Blachowicz[/autotag] left on the outside looking in, should they be booked against each other as insurance? It’d be a rematch of a 2015 fight won by Anderson.
  • Bellator Europe 6 took place Saturday and ended with another highlight-reel knockout by [autotag]Michael Page[/autotag], who finished Giovanni Melillo with one punch early in the first round. Afterward, Page called for a rematch with welterweight champion [autotag]Douglas Lima[/autotag]. Where does Bellator go next with MVP?
  • Did you catch UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Stipe Miocic[/autotag] on the set of ESPN “College Gameday” before the Ohio State-Penn State football game? That was cool, wasn’t it? More of this, Stipe.
  • UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] seems to be stirring the pot with [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag]. What do we think of this?
  • [autotag]Floyd Mayweather[/autotag] is back! Maybe. And he’ll be working with UFC president Dana White! Maybe. What do we make of this?

Stream or download this and all episodes of MMA Junkie Radio over at AudioBoom, or check it out above. You can also catch it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and more. A new episode of the podcast is released every Monday and Thursday.

UFC champ Zhang Weili believes Rose Namajunas is toughest test at strawweight

Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a worthy challenger to the UFC champion, but she’s not the toughest one.

UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] likely will make her first title defense vs. Joanna Jedrzejczyk.

And while Weili believes Jedrzejczyk is a formidable opponent, she doesn’t believe she’s the best in the division. Weili bestows that title to former champion [autotag]Rose Namajunas[/autotag].

“I always want to fight the best, but it is not my job to determine who the best is,” Weili told MMA Junkie in a direct message. “If you are asking me if I think Joanna is the best then the answer is no. Joanna is a worthy opponent and is among the best, but in my opinion Rose is the best martial artist. And when the time is right, it will be an honor to test my skills against hers.”

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Namajunas (8-4 MMA, 6-3 UFC) was en route to a masterclass in her last outing, when she attempted to defend her title vs. Jessica Andrade at UFC 237. But a crucial mistake cost her as she latched onto a Kimura while being lifted and was unable to protect herself when she was slammed, getting knocked out in Round 2.

Despite the loss, Weili (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) still sees Namajunas as the toughest test and hopes to get the opportunity to share the octagon with her in the near future. Good news for Weili is that Namajunas, who contemplated retirement after losing her belt, recently announced her intention to continue fighting.

“I think Rose is a true master and know our paths will cross,” Weili said. “I like Rose very much, and to share the octagon with her will be the true test. I look forward to seeing her return, and I wish her good health and prosperity.”

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UFC champ Zhang Weili envisions finishing ‘angry and emotional’ Joanna Jedrzejczyk early

“I think she sounds very angry all the time, and her emotions will get her in trouble.”

It appears UFC strawweight champion [autotag]Zhang Weili[/autotag] will be making her first title defense against former 115-pound queen [autotag]Joanna Jedrzejczyk[/autotag].

At least that’s what UFC president Dana White alluded to when he said earlier this week that he’s very excited about the matchup, which has been brewing. Weili (20-1 MMA, 4-0 UFC) and Jedrzejczyk (16-3 MMA, 10-3 UFC) have not minced words toward each other. In a recent interview with South China Morning Post, Jedrzejczyk said she’s willing to take a canoe to China to beat the (expletive) out of Weili.

Weili believes Jedrzejczyk’s emotions will cost her, as she envisions an early finish in their potential fight, just like when she won the title in 42 seconds by stopping Jessica Andrade in August.

“I think she sounds very angry all the time, and her emotions will get her in trouble,” Weili told MMA Junkie in a direct message. “She is willing to fight me now, but there was a time she didn’t want to fight me, as well. I am ready anytime for battle. Just call my manager Mr. Brian (Butler) and the boss Dana, and we can fight next week.”

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“I am always looking to finish a fight as soon as I can so my opponent doesn’t have to endure long periods of damage,” Weili added. “I see the fight ending in one or two rounds. I think Joanna possesses great skill with her striking, along with good power, but I believe in my training and team to have me ready to beat her anywhere.”

After losing her title to Rose Namajunas in 2017, Jedrzejczyk endured a rough stretch in her career, falling in a rematch to Namajunas, as well as a failed attempt to capture the flyweight title vs. Valentina Shevchenko. Jedrzejczyk had dropped three of her last four bouts, but she is back in pursuit of reclaiming her throne, defeating Michelle Waterson via unanimous decision last month in Tampa.

Jedrzejczyk, who said she was promised a title shot with a win over Waterson, is determined to get her title back, but Weili is confident she will shut her down.

“I think she is very angry and emotional, and I will calm her down,” Weili said.

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