Nick Atkin on 31 Aug, 2019 wrote:• ‘Magnum’ wins strawweight title at Fight Night 157 with stunning stoppage victory over Jessica Andrade
• Li ‘The Leech’ Jingliang enters welterweight rankings with dramatic win against Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos
Zhang Weili celebrates after knocking out Jessica Andrade to win the strawweight title. Photos: Brandon Magnus/Zuffa
Zhang Weili stunned the world with a 42-second TKO of Jessica Andrade at Fight Night 157 at the Universiade Sports Centre in Shenzhen, becoming the first Chinese fighter to hold a UFC title.
New strawweight champion Zhang (20-1) hurt Brazilian Andrade (20-7) with a perfect right hand before rocking her with knees to the head, and the referee eventually stepped in.
“Last time when I was in Beijing, I made a commitment, ‘Man, I’m going to be the first ever champion of the Chinese fighters’,” Zhang said in her post-fight interview inside the Octagon.
“Today I made it, I want to thank my coaches, my brothers and sisters, everyone who supported me. I’m so proud to be Chinese. I want to thank my country. My name is Zhang Weili, remember me.”
Zhang Weili celebrates with the Chinese flag.
Andrade was humble in defeat. “I’d just like to thank China for welcoming me with open arms,” she said. “Props to Weili, hopefully I get a chance to fight her again, maybe here in China if you guys don’t mind having me.
“This is my style, I’m aggressive, if I would fight her again you never know, but now I’ve just got to go back to the drawing board and come back stronger.”
Dana White places the title around Zhang Weili’s waist in the Octagon.
Zhang added that winning the title was a dream come true. “I felt so excited. I think the keys to my win were my calm mindset and the strategy defined by my coaches. All the strategies were practical, predicted each important point, and helped me seize every opportunity,” Zhang said.
“Also, I did a great job in adjusting my mindset. When I fought overseas, my team was not there with me because of visa issues. But I performed well last year in Beijing, and I won the belt this year in Shenzhen, since all my coaches are here with me, supporting me.
“I don’t have a name for next opponent right now, I will take whoever UFC gives to me. But personally, I will take a long sleep tonight and rest.”
In the co-main event, Li “The Leech” Jingliang (17-5) got back in the win column after stopping Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos (21-6) with 15 seconds to go, earning himself a top 10 ranking in the welterweight division.
Li dropped Dos Santos in the first round, then looked to be easing his way to a decision win before putting the Brazilian on the canvas twice more in the closing stages before the referee stepped in.
“I’ve been preparing hard for this fight, I’ll keep fighting,” Li said in his post-fight interview. “And now I want to say, China power!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt-kYGr85rE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVdPp0jGlM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogrQ_VvbfHo