UFC: Joe Rogan says Zhang Weili vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk proves ‘MMA is not a game’
- ‘Those two women fought for their lives,’ UFC commentator says two years on from classic bout, with rematch in works according to Dana White
- ‘You leave a piece of yourself in the Octagon when you go through something like they did,’ former champ Bisping says – ‘you don’t play that sport’
Long-time UFC commentator Joe Rogan believes Zhang Weili and Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s classic is a perfect example of what sets MMA apart from other sports.
Zhang and Jedrzejczyk met at UFC 248 two years ago on March 7, 2020, just days before the coronavirus pandemic took hold of the world.
China’s Zhang was the strawweight champion at the time, while her Polish foe was looking to reclaim the title after losing it to Rose Namajunas in 2017. The bout, which Zhang won via hard-fought decision, is still regarded as one of the best in MMA history.
Rogan reminisced about Zhang and Jedrzejczyk’s all-time classic on a recent episode of his podcast, The Joe Rogan Experience, alongside former UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping. He pointed to the fight as an example that “MMA is not a game”.
“Zhang Weili versus Joanna Jedrzejczyk, remember that [expletive] fight?” the long-time UFC commentator said. “Jesus. Chaos. Oh my God. When that fight was over, that wasn’t a game. Those two women fought for their lives. They emptied everything they had out into that Octagon. It needs so much more respect than any other sport.
“It’s not like the guy didn’t guard the goalposts well enough. It’s not like a guy dropped the ball on the infield. It’s different.”
