Forward of her return at UFC 312, Zhang Weili has revealed her prolonged layoff from the Octagon has come off the again of failed plans for her to tackle present flyweight champion, Valentina Shevchenko in an enormous tremendous battle since her title regaining win final September.
Weili, the present undisputed strawweight champion, returns to motion this weekend within the co-main occasion of UFC 312 in Sydney, taking up unbeaten primary ranked challenger, Tatiana Suarez in an enormous conflict between the duo.
Most just lately defending the title as a part of her second 115lbs title reign at UFC 300 again in April, Weili took on Chinese language compatriot, Yan Xiaonan in a historic conflict, managing to land a unanimous resolution win over the latter to efficiently defend her belt for the second time throughout her newest stint.
Zhang Weili reveals failed plans to battle Valentina Shevchenko pre-UFC 312
And endlessly linked with a brilliant battle towards pound-for-pound primary, Shevchenko lately throughout his personal title reigns, Weili reveals she attended Noche UFC final 12 months on the Las Vegas Sphere with a view to taking up the veteran striker within the new 12 months — leading to her prolonged layoff.
“It is a very lengthy story, truly,” Zhang Weili advised MMA Preventing through a Mandarin translator. “I wished to battle extra, however as a result of what UFC have organized for me, and likewise relying on my potential opponent, whether or not they wish to battle me, after they wish to battle me, in order that’s why I solely have fought one time final 12 months as a result of it’s out of my management.
Zhang Weili reveals that she was in talks with the UFC to MOVE UP and battle Valentina Shevchenko after UFC Noche but it surely simply didn’t come togetherShe additionally stated Saturday might be her final battle at Strawweight
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“I work, I used to be enthusiastic about one other battle final 12 months, however there’s so many modifications that sure, I didn’t battle,” Zhang Weili defined. “That’s why I used to be within the Sphere in Vegas watching the battle between [Alexa] Grasso and Valentina [Shevchenko]. I used to be enthusiastic about preventing one other battle, however didn’t occur.”
But to e-book her personal return to motion since efficiently regaining her undisputed flyweight title in her trilogy conflict with Mexican star, Grasso final 12 months, Shevchenko has been linked closely in latest months with a return to place her title on the road towards French contender, Manon Fiorot.
