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Chris Weidman believes “bad juju” from injury played a part in Weili Zhang’s loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 261
Chris Weidman believes that “bad juju” from his gruesome injury at UFC 261 played a part in Weili Zhang’s title loss to Rose Namajunas. Weidman (15-6 MMA), a former UFC middleweight champion, squared off with perennial division contender Uriah Hall on April 24 in Jacksonville. The contest lasted all of seventeen seconds, as the first […]
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Zhang Weili praises Rose Namajunas after internal battles, ‘She’s the champ, just like a god’
Zhang Weili is making it clear that she has accepted her first loss since her debut — but not without first overcoming the pain that came with it. The UFC’s first Chinese champion is currently in the middle of having a mini-documentary release where she’s gone into great detail about some moments in her career […]
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Zhang Weili shares that she’s begun training for next fight, ‘Champion Rose is very strong’
Former UFC strawweight champion Zhang Weili is already getting back to work for her return to action. China’s Zhang (21-2) suffered defeat to Rose Namajunas in her last time out at UFC 261 in April. She recently took to Instagram to hint at a potential rematch on the horizon as she begins training for her […]
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Joanna Jedrzejczyk shoots down the idea of a UFC rematch between Carla Esparza and Rose Namajunas
Joanna Jedrzejczyk has shot down the idea of a title fight rematch between Carla Esparza and UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas. Jedrzejczyk hasn’t fought since UFC 248 in March 2020, when she lost a spirited split decision to former champ Weili Zhang in one of the best fights of last year. Since then, the […]
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Carla Esparza hopes UFC gives her next title shot against Rose Namajunas: “Come on Dana”
UFC women’s strawweight contender Carla Esparza hopes the UFC gives her the next title shot against Rose Namajunas, saying “Come on Dana.” Esparza is coming off of an incredible TKO win over Yan Xiaonan at UFC Vegas 27 last weekend that was the statement she needed to make in order to earn a title shot […]
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Carla Esparza sends respectful challenge to Rose Namajunas: “We started this division together… Round 2?”
Carla Esparza has issued a challenge to Rose Namajunas as she closes in on another shot at the UFC Strawweight Championship. Last Saturday night, Esparza firmly cemented her place as one of the division’s top contenders with a dominant TKO victory over Yan Xiaonan. It marked her fifth straight win and, in the eyes of […]
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Dana White responds to Carla Esparza’s request for a title shot: “Statement made. Message received. We see you!”
UFC President Dana White has responded to Carla Esparza after the former champ called for a title shot following her mauling of Yan Xiaonan. Esparza (18-6 MMA), the promotions inaugural strawweight champion, squared off with Xiaonan (13-2 MMA) in the co-headliner of tonight’s UFC Vegas 27 event. Carla Esparza had entered the pivotal contest sporting […]
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Beneil Dariush says Zhang Weili has ‘terrible excuse’ for Rose Namajunas loss
Zhang Weili and Beneil Dariush had mixed results in their most recent outings. However, they both were on the receiving end of negative crowd reactions. Dariush now finds himself sitting at the No. 3 ranked contender spot at lightweight after a dominant win over Tony Ferguson at UFC 262 this past weekend. The event was […]
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Yan Xiaonan didn’t like Rose Namajunas bringing politics into fight with Zhang Weili, ‘what she did is just separating people’
Rose Namajunas drummed up some controversy ahead of her title tilt with Zhang Weili at UFC 261. For Zhang’s fellow China native and top strawweight contender, Yan Xiaonan, the comments could have been done without. In an interview with Lithuanian-based media before UFC 261, Namajunas would talk about her background and the upcoming matchup with […]
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Zhang Weili details hostile Jacksonville territory and struggles landing Rose Namajunas fight
The build-up to the big strawweight title clash between Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas culminated with some political integration. However, it was just a struggle to make the fight happen in the first place. Now the former champion, China’s Zhang (21-2) hadn’t fought in over a year before the Namajunas encounter in Jacksonville, Florida at […]
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Rose Namajunas following UFC 261 title win: “I love Joanna but she gonna be mad”
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas said following her UFC 261 title win, “I love Joanna (Jedrzejczyk) but she gonna be mad.” Namajunas made history last weekend at UFC 261 when she knocked out Weili Zhang with a head kick to become the first two-time women’s champion in UFC history. Namajunas previously held the UFC […]
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Kamaru Usman praises Rose Namajunas following upset win at UFC 261: “Words can’t describe how proud I am of this woman”
UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman praised newly-crowned women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas after her upset win at UFC 261. Usman put on a stunning performance in the main event when he electrified the crowd with a KO win over Jorge Masvidal, but Namajunas was one of the stars of the show, as well. “Thug” knocked […]
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What’s next for the stars of UFC 261?
The UFC returned to a full capacity crowd on Saturday night in Jacksonville, Florida for UFC 261. The card saw three title fights as Kamaru Usman rematched Jorge Masvidal, Weili Zhang took on Rose Namajunas, and Valentina Shevchenko battled Jessica Andrade. The event was one of the better ones in recent memory and one title […]
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Rose Namajunas credits former UFC rival Joanna Jedrzejczyk for supplying blueprint on how to beat Zhang Weili
Rose Namajunas has credited Joanna Jędrzejczyk for giving her the blueprint on the right way to approach a fight against Zhang Weili. “Thug Rose” went into her title fight at the weekend knowing that many viewed her as the underdog – but coming out of it, she was the one who had her hand raised […]
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Rose Namajunas releases statement following head kick KO win over Weili Zhang at UFC 261
UFC women’s strawweight champion Rose Namajunas issued a statement following her head kick KO win over Weili Zhang at UFC 261. Namajunas entered the UFC 261 co-main event as a considerable betting underdog, but she showed that the odds were wrong and she was being overlooked with a brutal head kick KO just over a […]
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Weili Zhang issues statement following title loss to Rose Namajunas at UFC 261
Weili Zhang has issued a statement following her title loss to Rose Namajunas at tonight’s UFC 261 event in Jacksonville, Florida. Zhang (21-2 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout […]
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Joanna Jedrzejczyk reacts after Rose Namajunas KO’s Weili Zhang at UFC 261
Former UFC strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk was clearly watching tonight’s UFC 261 co-main event between Rose Namajunas and Weili Zhang. Jedrzejczyk (16-4 MMA) is of course familiar with both Rose and Weili, having suffered two previous losses to Namajunas, this before her most recent setback to Zhang. Zhang (21-2 MMA) was returning to the Octagon […]
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Pros react after Rose Namajunas KO’s Weili Zhang at UFC 261
Tonight’s UFC 261 event was co-headlined by a highly anticipated women’s strawweight title fight featuring Weili Zhang taking on Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-2 MMA) was returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. The Chinese standout […]
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UFC 261 Results: Rose Namajunas KO’s Weili Zhang (Video)
Tonight’s UFC 261 event is co-headlined by a strawweight title fight featuring reigning champion Weili Zhang taking on former title holder Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-1 MMA) will be returning to the Octagon for the first time since her thrilling split-decision victory over Joanna Jedrzejczyk at UFC 248, which served as her first career title defense. […]
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UFC 261: ‘Usman vs. Masvidal 2’ Live Results and Highlights
The Octagon returns to Jacksonville for tonight’s UFC 261: ‘Usman vs. Masvidal 2’ event, a thirteen-bout fight card that features three title fights. Kamaru Usman and Jorge Masvidal originally met last July at UFC 251, where ‘The Nigerian Nightmare’ won a clear-cut decision, but ‘Gamebred’ took the fight on six days notice. Since then, Usman […]
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UFC 261 | Pro fighters make their picks for Weili Zhang vs. Rose Namajunas title fight
In the co-main event of UFC 261, Weili Zhang is looking to defend her strawweight title for the second time when she battles former champion, Rose Namajunas. Heading into the fight, Zhang is a -210 favorite while the challenger is a +170 underdog. Ahead of the fight, BJPENN.com reached out to several pro fighters to […]
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UFC 261: ‘Usman vs Masvidal 2’ Fight Card and Start Times
The UFC returns to pay-per-view once again this weekend with an arena full of fans in Jacksonville at UFC 261, headlined by Kamaru Usman vs Jorge Masvidal 2. Event: UFC 261: Usman vs Masvidal 2 Date: Saturday, 24th April 2021 Location: VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, Florida Broadcast: ESPN+ – 5.45pm/8pm/10pm EST The blockbuster event […]
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Team Zhang responds to “better dead than red” comments from Rose Namajunas
The team of UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang responded to the recent “better dead than red” comments from Rose Namajunas. Namajunas’ recent comments led to a lot of media coverage after a clip of her talking about communism. As part of the comments, Namajunas took a shot at Zhang. The two meet next weekend […]
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Rose Namajunas stands by communism comments aimed at Weili Zhang: “Can we really even know what she really believes?”
Rose Namajunas is not backing down after receiving a ton of heat for her “better dead than red” comment regarding UFC champion Weili Zhang. Namajunas (9-4 MMA) is set to challenge Zhang (21-1 MMA) for the promotions undisputed strawweight champion in the co-main event of UFC 261 on April 24 in Jacksonville. Leading up to […]
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Weili Zhang seemingly unfazed by “better dead than red” comments made by Rose Namajunas
Women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang has responded to the “better dead than red” comments made by her upcoming opponent Rose Namajunas. Zhang (21-1 MMA) and Namajunas (9-4 MMA) are set to square off in the co-main event of UFC 261 on April 24 in Jacksonville, Florida. Leading up to the fight the promotions reigning 115-pound […]
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Rose Namajunas takes political jab at Weili Zhang ahead of UFC 261: “Better dead than red”
Rose Namajunas took a political jab at UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang ahead of UFC 261, saying “Better dead than red.” Namajunas steps back into the Octagon on April 24 when she takes on Zhang with the 115lbs belt on the line. Ahead of the fight, “Thug” spoke to the Lithuanian National Radio and […]
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Zhang Weili hopes to befriend Rose Namajunas after UFC 261 clash
At UFC 261 on April 24, Zhang Weili and Rose Namajunas will be anything but friendly with one another – the current champ hopes that won’t be the case in the aftermath. Coming into the co-main event of the first event to have full crowds back in the UFC, Zhang expects a great battle with […]
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Weili Zhang fires back at Mike Tyson after he suggests Rose Namajunas “destroys” her
UFC women’s strawweight champion Weili Zhang fired back at boxing legend Mike Tyson after he suggested Rose Namajunas “destroys” her. Zhang returns to the Octagon at UFC 261 on April 24 when she takes on Namajunas in a fight that’s been in the works for months now. Zhang hasn’t fought since last March at UFC […]