Weili Zhang made UFC history at UFC Fight Night Shenzhen, as she both won the UFC Women’s Strawweight Title and became the first Chinese born fighter to win UFC gold.
There could be a problem finding future title challengers for Zhang, as UFC President Dana White says nobody wants to fight her.
“Everybody in line, up to Weili Zhang, had fights or couldn’t fight or didn’t want to fight,” White said at the UFC Fight Night Shenzhen post-fight press conference (via Steven Marrocco & Matt Erickson of MMA Junkie). “I said it at the (pre-fight) press conference: Nobody wanted to fight (Zhang). Nobody wanted to fight her. Everybody can say what they want. I called a lot of people that said no, they don’t want to fight Weili Zhang. Jessica Andrade said, ‘I’ll do it, and I’ll come (to China),’ reciprocating after (Rose) Namajunas went down to Brazil when she had the title.”
Zhang had only competed three times on the UFC before earning a title shot, with those fights being victories over Danielle Taylor, Jessica Aguilar and Tecia Torres.
The newly crowned champion is expecting to be an active fighter, as she has already spoken with White about what is next.
“She literally just came into my dressing room in the back and said, ‘I’ll fight as much as you want me to. I’m ready to go,'” White said. “You know I love that attitude. She’s going to make a massive impact (in China). She’s obviously very good, and a very talented woman. Her personality, everything. I already have people from WME calling me with deals for her – she’s already getting offers for deals. So it’s big. It’s really big. And she’s a Tom Brady fan – just when you think she can’t get any more perfect, she’s a Tom Brady fan.”
It is unknown at this time as to who will get the first shot at Zhang, but former strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk is the only fighter in the top five with a bout booked at the moment.
