UFC 275: Chinese trailblazer Zhang Weili headlines return to Asia with Joanna Jedrzejczyk rematch
- Sunday morning’s 12-bout card – prime time Saturday night in the United States – gives Las Vegas-based UFC a chance to relaunch its ambitions in Asia
- Two world title bouts involving fighters with backstories from Asia will cap the action
Chinese history-maker Zhang Weili and two world title fights headline the return of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) to Asia on Sunday after a break of more than two years because of Covid-19.
Former strawweight champions Zhang and Joanna Jedrzejczyk of Poland are set to battle at UFC 275 in Singapore in a rematch of their March 2020 clash which UFC president Dana White calls “the greatest fight ever”.
Much has changed since the pair fought each other to a bloody standstill across five thrilling rounds in Las Vegas.
Zhang was the champion then, China’s first in UFC and the country’s face of MMA, and successfully defended her title with a split-decision victory.
But she has since suffered two defeats in a row to Rose Namajunas, surrendering her crown in the process, while fellow former champion Jedrzejczyk has remained on the peripheries of the sport ever since that fateful night two years ago.
There is no belt on the line this time but the victor at Singapore Indoor Stadium will get the chance to win the title back against America’s current strawweight queen Carla Esparza.
