Zhang Weili Hopeful To Defend Title In China Following UFC 281 Win: “I Hope I Can Defend My Title Next Year In China”
Newly crowned UFC strawweight champion, Zhang Weili, is hopeful she can make the first defense of her title next year in her home country of China.
Weili spoke with the media at the UFC 281 post-fight press conference this past Saturday night following her second-round submission win over former two-time champ, Carla Esparza, and explained why she wants to defend her title in front of the Chinese fans in 2023, while also talking about the growth of MMA within the country over the last three years.
“If we can do it, if the UFC can do it, I hope I can defend my title next year in China,” Zhang said via a translator (h/t MMA Fighting). “A billion Chinese MMA fans, they are looking for a big pay-per-view event in China. I think since I won the belt the first time, there are more and more young Chinese people, more girls, more women, starting to participate in this sport. MMA has developed very fast in China, from the UFC PI Shanghai in China in 2019. I also want to say thanks to the UFC. They give all the fighters and this sport massive support, like the UFC PI. They take care of me a lot, whether in Shanghai or Las Vegas. So I do appreciate that we have an MMA promotion like the UFC. They do help us a lot.”
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