Expect to See Zhang vs. Namajunas Early Next Year

The UFC’s strawweight division is one of the most talent-filled weight classes in MMA. Weili Zhang has established herself as a legitimate champion and it now appears we have a clear number-one contender. New reports claim we could see Zhang vs. Namajunas take place sometime in early 2021.

This is a highly intriguing matchup. Rose Namajunas is a former champion and many believe she has the skills to dethrone the champion. Today, we’ll take a close look at how each of these fighters stacks up against one another.

Let’s get into it!

Rose Namajunas is Next in Line for the Title After Win Over Andrade

The history of the UFC’s strawweight division is an interesting one. Back in 2014, Rose Namajunas and Carla Esparza competed to become the first champion of this weight class. Both had made their way through The Ultimate Fighter to earn a crack at the belt.

Rose looked good early on, yet Esparza began to take over with her wrestling as the fight went on. Early in the third round, Carla earned a submission win to become the champion. Rose was forced to go back to the drawing board.

This defeat proved instrumental in Namajunas’ career. She went 4-1 over the next three years to earn another title shot, this time against Joanna Jedrzejczyk. All US online sportsbooks listed Rose as the massive underdog heading into fight night. Incredibly, she defeated the champion via 1st-round KO.

Rose defended her belt once against Joanna before losing in shocking fashion to Jessica Andrade. After the loss, Rose stepped away from the sport. Finally, in July of 2020, Rose returned and avenged the loss to Andrade with an impressive decision victory.

This win made Rose Namajunas the clear number-one contender to the title. Fans around the world have been debating how a fight between Rose and the current champion, Weili Chang, would play out. On paper, it’s one of the most competitive matchups in recent memory.

One of Zhang’s coaches recently spoke to the media about when this matchup could take place.

Coach Offers Update on Zhang vs. Namajunas

Everyone knew Weili Zhang was a special talent when she first burst onto the UFC scene. After just three fights in the promotion, she earned a crack at the strawweight title. Zhang seized the opportunity and earned a 1st-round TKO over the aforementioned Jessica Andrade.

Seven months after that victory, Zhang put on one of the most entertaining UFC title defenses of all-time. Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk went to battle for 25 minutes. In the end, Zhang was declared the winner via split decision.

Everyone knew it would take time for Weili Zhang to recover after this bout. Many predicted that Rose Namajunas would become the next challenger for the belt. That has since been confirmed by officials within the UFC.

Not long ago, Zhang’s jiu jitsu coach Pedro Jordao spoke to the media and claimed Zhang vs. Namajunas would likely take place in early 2021.

“We’ll see how things go with this virus,” Jordao said. “But I think (the fight) will probably be in the first quarter. … We’re training for a while here. It appears that her next fight will be against Rose, but nothing is set yet. Everything indicates that’s the plan — and it makes sense, everybody knows that.”

This is what fans hoped to hear. Namajunas is extremely skilled on the feet and on the mat. She also holds two victories over Joanna Jedrzejczyk, who gave Zhang her toughest test to date. It’s not much of a surprise that many fans expect Rose to capture the title once again.

This weekend, fans will be treated to another important women’s title fight! Odds are now available for this bout.

Odds on Shevchenko vs. Lima Are Now Available Online!

It’s always fun to see a UFC title switch hands. Over the past few years, we’ve seen the strawweight championship strapped on several different fighter’s waists. The women’s flyweight title, however, hasn’t moved a muscle.

Valentina Shevchenko has ruled over this division with outright dominance. She won the belt in 2018 and has defended it three times. Most recently, Valentina earned a TKO finish over Katlyn Chookagian.

This Saturday, Shevchenko will look to add another title defense to her record against Jennifer Maia. It should be an exciting clash of striking styles. BetOnline, one of the top internet sports betting sites in the country, is offering odds on this fight.

It makes sense to see Shevchenko listed as the -1500 favorite. She’s one of the most skilled kickboxers to ever compete in MMA. It’s hard to imagine anyone taking Valentina’s belt anytime soon.

Jennifer Maia earned this title shot by defeating Joanne Calderwood via submission back in August. It was the most impressive performance of her career and showed a new weapon in her arsenal. She’s facing an uphill battle as the +900 underdog in this one, though. Make sure to stay tuned for what happens in this bout!

Are you excited to see Zhang vs. Namajunas next year? Who do you think wins? Let us know in the comments section below!